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Remember when you sat down at your desk at work or in the home office for the first time, and had a nice clean surface in front of you? For most people, that nice clean surface doesn’t last too long. Our workplaces have a tendency to become cluttered fast for the simple reason that we are generally so busy working we do not feel like we can take time out of our day to clear things off. We start stacking papers and supplies in one corner so we can get on with other things, and then one day we realize that “corner” has eclipsed most of the work surface. What do you really need on your desk?

• Your workstation—your desktop computer or laptop.

• Frequently used supplies including favorite pens, erasers, perhaps your stapler, and a limited supply of paperclips and other small items. These are best stored in a small plastic container so that they are corralled and do not start spilling all over your work area.

• Recent papers only, and these are best kept in a plastic office storage box for that purpose.

• Your nametag.

And that is really about it. A lot of workers are surprised to realize how little they actually need on their desks in order to function, but ask yourself which items you actually use on a daily basis, and you will realize that a desktop really can be kept about 80% clear with ease.

So the next question is, “What do I do with the rest of this stuff?” Start by throwing away anything you do not need and have no need to file. Once you get the junk out of the way, go through the papers and file anything that you are not likely to reference anytime this month. If you are at home and do not have a filing cabinet, you can get away with a few plastic storage bins.

As far as the rest goes, you will need to go through the supplies. If you think you will use something regularly at your desk, even if not every day, you will probably want to put it in a drawer. The same plastic office storage containers you use for your desktop can also go inside your drawers. If you have a lot of duplicate supplies, or supplies you will only use occasionally, consider either distributing them directly to other office staff who need them, or putting them in the inventory room. If your home office is what you are organizing, someone else in your household may want your extra supplies.

You really do not need a lot on your desktop for it to be functional. In fact, the more space you have, the easier it will be for you to get your work done. So clear off those unnecessary papers and reports, and send your unwanted supplies back to the inventory room. When you have a clear desktop, you will find work easier and more enjoyable. Odds are other members of the office staff will find your cubicle or office more pleasant to look at as well!