How to Organize Your Desk

Desk a disaster area? Don't just push the piles around; plunge into
a full-scale assault on the disarray. Clear off everything except the
computer and the phone, then add back essential items one by one.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Begin with an inbox no more than three sections deep. Assign these to the categories that work best for you: perhaps "Urgent, Current and Background" or "Clients, Prospects and Resources." See 184 Conquer Your Paper Piles.

2. Rely on the calendar on your computer or PDA. If you prefer a paper version, mount it on a bulletin board where it's off your desk and you can see it at a glance.

3. Stash any supplies other than a small pencil cup and a stapler in a single drawer. No one needs more pens, pencils, paper clips, tape or sticky notes than can fit into one drawer.

4. Take 5 to 10 minutes at the end of each day to straighten up your desk. Place the files or notes for tomorrow's top-priority project in the center of your clean and organized desktop. Then you're ready for the morning (see 3 Write an Effective To-Do List).

Tips & Warnings

• Place pictures and other personal memorabilia on a shelf or hang them on the wall. Reserve the prime real estate of your desktop for critical items.