Life Tips Daily

Today’s computer decluttering tip is a good next step once you’ve cleaned both desktops.

Once your desk is cleared off, you may discover that it’s the actual computer desk is hampering your ability to get organized. Perhaps the desk doesn’t have enough space for you to keep all the essentials (speakers, printer, scanner, fax machine) nearby and easy to reach. Maybe the surface of the desk is only big enough to hold a computer screen, while you need space to prop a notebook or a plate of food in front of the screen. Perhaps it’s drawers or shelves that your desk is missing. Whatever it is, do a good evaluation of your setup and figure out what you need to make your computer station the most useful and organized it can be.

Your physical desktop may be clean, but what did you do with all the junk that was on it? Did you go through each item carefully, tossing or recycling unneeded things and filing away those things that you do need, or did you just shove everything into a box and later, when you need something, you’ll be forced to riffle through a box with contents that have no rhyme or reason for being in there?

If you did the latter, all is not lost. Now is the perfect time to devise an organization system that works for you. There are more systems for organizing your desk surface than there is time to go through them. It’s all about the destination though, not how you get there: the objective is to come up with a system that works for you and keep up with it. What system you go with depends on what your computer area is for: a work computer will need a different setup than your home computer station. At work it may be important to have a hanging folder system or a filing cabinet nearby, whereas at home, a large magnet or cork board where you can affix inspiration or put reminders might be best. In both cases, a notebook where you can jot down important things, from interesting links or information you come across, to important information obtained from an instant message conversation may be necessary. There are lots of options.

And of course, setting up a system is only the beginning: vigilantly maintaining the system is key. Good luck!