Organizing office desks to make good progress

Is your desktop overflowing with things? It is extremely inefficient if you spend all your time searching for things while you work, and it tends to be a distraction. In the end, spilling coffee on a pile of papers stacked on your desk is just the worst, so make it a rule to keep your desk as neat and tidy as possible.

The best way is to think of not keeping anything on your desk. Make a point of keeping everything except the things you use all the time--like your computer, phone, and the like--in the desk drawers. Clearing the most space possible is a key point in enhancing your work.

If you randomly throw things into the drawers, you can’t find them when you need them and waste time searching. Store things so that you can quickly find things when you need them.

Sometimes storage trays are already set in your desk drawers, but in many cases they are not very functional. In such cases, replace them with commercially available trays so that you can clearly separate and organize items in your drawers. Keep the things you use the most in the front of the drawers and the things you use less often in the back. Consider where you sit as well, and put things in the areas closest to you for optimum access.

Muji Desk Organizer Storage Boxes:
There are four types with sizes designed to be arranged and used in combination. They have partitions set inside, and naturally they can be moved. Another nice feature is that you can buy and add more partitions (sold separately). The trays are translucent so that they look nice, and it is also easy to see the things you put in them--a point that we recommend, as this makes it easy to search for things.

Do you often wonder what to put in the narrow top drawer? This is a good place to keep papers temporarily until you process them, and to keep empty otherwise. Carelessly leaving important documents on your desk, you might undermine your credibility. Quickly putting documents in this drawer when you go home or step away from your desk would be smart.

Be sure to manage documents properly to ensure that none are unprocessed or lost. We recommend that you keep documents in clear folders with labels attached, and that you file them according to the status. Use terms that you readily understand, such as “unprocessed,” or “in progress,” and manage the documents separately according to status. This way you can see the status of the documents right away and make your workflow even smoother.

Filing documents so that you know where they are is the cardinal rule in document storage. Use clear folders and files in order to store documents effectively. It is important that you apply indexes and labels and clearly specify what the files and folders contain. File documents in a way that other people can understand when they look at them in your absence.

Keep the area under your desk as neat and tidy as possible as a rule. Consider an area overflowing with so many personal things that you can’t stretch your legs...to be ridiculous. Keep things like bags and a change of shoes to an absolute minimum.

In the photo, a document tray is being used to store a change of shoes. If there are no shelves or racks, use a case, basket, or U-shaped rack.