Monday, March 24, 2014

Organize That Desk!


Sorry. Did it seem like I was yelling at you? I was talking to myself. 

If you imagine me as a flighty, slightly-amusing yet disorganized person, you would not be far off in your assessment. Okay, fine. You're dead on. That doesn't mean I can't have moments of organization. When it comes to my work, I try to keep my desk as organized as possible, for me at least.

This week's theme will be organization as you've probably guessed from the intro. Myself; Brandi from Finding the Path for Me; and Samantha from The Marble Jar are banding together in solidarity over organization!

I can work with chaos on my desk. It doesn't bother me unless it becomes distracting. I've talked about my love of notebooks before, but not about how they pile on the edge of my desk, the table next to my desk, and on most surfaces surrounding the general vicinity of my desk.

In honor of the spring season, which is right around the corner, let's talk about organizing your desk.

Clean up After Yourself

First, you have to start with a clean surface. I like to remove everything from the top and wash it down. It can't hurt to vacuum out that keyboard, either. Crumbs and dust can block the keys. What do you mean you never eat at your desk?! Lies! Hmph. Maybe it's just me. I practically live at my desk. I try to wipe down the monitor screen once a week or so. I hate when the monitor is dusty.

Like I mentioned, notebooks accumulate as if they're breeding while I sleep. I almost never throw notebooks away, but at some point, they have to be organized by whether I need them close by or not. The ones I don't really need will be put into a plastic tub. I might never look in that tub ever again, but what if suddenly I need that scribble-doodle from last year? It's best that I keep it.

Organize Those Pens

I have one little box on my desk that has pens, tape, and well, junk basically. It's the equivalent of the junk drawer in the kitchen. If you have something similar, you'll want to clean and organize that, too. Make sure all those pens work. You wouldn't believe how some will dry out when you haven't used them.

Once you clean the desk itself and organize existing items, it's time to think about how you want to stay on track going forward. Boxes, shelves, and containers can help organize your desk.

I'm planning on buying cute little boxes for my stuff. I know! I should have purchased organizational supplies sooner, but I'm horrible. I hate to pay for things like that. I'll buy cheap things at the dollar store before I'll pay a hundred dollars for a set of boxes. Now that I'm on Pinterest, I know where to find ideas for making crafty organizers!

This is my spring resolution.



14 comments:

  1. What a great way to start the week and spring!! I so need to tackle my desk and the rest of my office, thanks for the reminder.

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    1. Welcome! It probably feels more like spring where you are. Here it still feels all wintercrappy.

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  2. Ok, I'm re-doing my whole office! I Bought a filing cabinet at Goodwill for $10 and it is still sitting in the hall. I digress, I also need more pens. I have loads of notebooks, though none of the lovely journal types. I must confess, I don't actually have a desk. I have a corner and I tote my laptop from room to room. I need minions, though I'm so scattered they would probably just run amuck.

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    1. I would LOVE minions. Little yellow people to do my bidding. Even if they ran amuck, that's amusing. Totally still worth having them!

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  3. I love your Spring resolution! Organization is something that kind of sneaks up on you sometimes. It can be a summer resolution, a fall resolution...

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    1. That is true. You could have them at any time! Spring just seems like the perfect motivation.

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  4. Great spring resolution! Keeping my desk clean and clutter free helps me think more clearly and feel an overall sense of sanity! Lol! I hate clutter and can barely think when I see it around me!!!

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    1. I can totally block it out! I have an off switch in my head for screaming kids and clutter, but around my desk, it's easier to work when I'm organized.

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  5. O.K... funny how you envision a person writing/typing.. I pictured you as a kitchen table kind of blogger and writer.. I love that you have a desk and it's organized!!! haha.. I have a desk.. ummmm, under that pile of laundry somewhere.. it was a custom made desk too.. but I 'am' a kitchen table person.. of course now that too is covered with my coupons, crafts, notes, .... thank goodness for no kids and eating in front of the tv.. I really must get more organized.. it does help the mind lots! Thanks for that little push to get moving on my quest for a more organized life! :)

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    1. I wouldn't have had a desk except a friend said, "Hey, can I keep this desk in your parent's garage?" I said, "Sure!" and a year later it was in my house!

      People work differently. They say that about clutter, and how it helps a person be more productive to remove it. I think it depends on the type of person you are. Some people thrive in chaotic environments! It helps them be more creative. Who knows!

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  6. I think I needed this! Although I am a very organized person, my desk is one area that I let things pile on and be messy, but a messy environment is a messy mind. Time to clear it up....maybe I will be even more productive that way! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. The desk seems to be the place for disorganization, too. I'm not sure why! I'm glad it was helpful.

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  7. Ah, an organizational post! I love it :) I have a hard time getting anything done in a messy environment, so I normally have to straighten before I start anything LOL

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    1. I'm not surprised! I can't imagine that your desk ever gets messy. Or maybe our definitions vary!

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