Happy National Clean Off Your Desk Day!
Every January 14, we’re encouraged to clean off our desks. Whether it’s a work desk or home office, it’s inevitable things will get out of control occasionally.
That’s certainly the case for mine right now. I’ve been in the process of decluttering and organizing other areas of my apartment. As a result, there are some leftover items that ended up in my desk area. Craft supplies that need to be put away. Miscellaneous papers that need to be reviewed and/or shredded. And a plethora of random pens, markers, and notebooks.
I think I’ve mentioned before how much I hate cleaning. If I haven’t… I hate cleaning! But the older I get, the more I realize how much more productive I am, especially when it comes to creative projects, when I have easy access to the things I need. That means keeping my desk and general office/craft supplies somewhat organized. Definitely a work in progress right now.
When it comes to finding the motivation to clean off my own work space, I try to keep in mind the things that I most regularly use. Those items need to be easily accessible. Then, I look at those things that I use for specific projects that I don’t need for everything, but still need to be able to get to easily. Last, there are the things I only need occasionally that can be put aside most of the time.
THINGS I NEED REGULARLY
- NOTEBOOKS – I admit I have way too many notebooks. But as a writer and general creative, I always have a notebook of some sort around. I use them to write down story ideas, notes, even dreams I had that could turn into stories. When working, I need to have these pages nearby.
- PENS – Again, I freely admit I will never run out of pens. But like the notebooks, I need them handy to take notes and capture ideas.
- HEADPHONES – I like to listen to music or podcasts as a I work sometimes. Even though I live alone (well, other than my cat), I still like to use headphones to help block out outside noises. Being interrupted by the beeping of a trash truck is kind of annoying.
- STICKY NOTES/NOTE CARDS – I know there are countless apps and computer programs for capturing ideas and organizing them. But I am old school. I still prefer using analog systems. Along with my notebooks, I use A LOT of sticky notes and note cards to jot down ideas. These are especially helpful during research phases of a project. I mark sections in books and write down quotes or information I might use.
THINGS I USE A LOT BUT DON’T ALWAYS NEED OUT
- PRINTER PAPER AND INK – As a writer, I go through a lot of paper and ink. As I print off manuscript chapters and information for other creative projects, along with research, I need to have extra paper and ink ready to go as needed.
- FOLDERS AND BINDERS – Because I do still use mostly paper, I try to keep things somewhat organized in file folders and binders. This helps me keep ideas and chapter drafts for each project in its own place, and everything is labeled. That way, I can grab whatever folder or binder I need, and everything is all together – chapters, notes, research, etc…
- MARKERS/SHARPIES – I use markers and Sharpies for a lot of things in my creative work. On a small scale, these are used when I label sections of notebooks and file folders. I use them to color code drafts of projects, creating outlines and story boards, and drawing.
THINGS I USE ONCE IN A WHILE
- RESEARCH MATERIALS – While I mostly use the internet for research, I still have some hardback books, including a synonym dictionary, several style guides, and Bartlett’s Book of Quotes. Because I’ve used these so much, it’s easier for me to grab them and turn to the specific area rather than going through an internet search.
- GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES – In addition to the supplies I use frequently, there is a handful of office stuff that I need occasionally, but don’t need to have out on my desk all the time. Things like a paper shredder or pencil sharpener are handy, but I don’t use them enough to give them space on my desk. They are safely tucked away where I can get to them when I need to, but out of the way of my regular work space.
Desk clutter can get out of control if you let it. (And right now, the items on my desk seem to be multiplying.) But finding the motivation to keep your creative space organized can be hard to come by when you’re in the in middle of a project. We’d rather spend our time creating, not cleaning.
So on National Clean Off Your Desk Day, take a few minutes to look at your work space. What do you really need? By breaking down your supplies into categories based on how often you use them, you can stay motivated to keep your desk in order.
I’m off to go clean my desk now.
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