I have a love/hate relationship with desks. I insist on having one wherever I live, but yet end up making an office out of my bed on most days.
There are, admittedly, few things I love as much as a dedicated work space at home. And even though I may be guilty of not using it as much as I should, I just like knowing it’s there. Kind of like those obscure kitchen gadgets you buy on impulse, don’t end up using as much, but just like knowing that you have it…just in case.
I’ve gone from being a collector of useless things to more of a minimalist with my desk workspace. Yes, I was once that girl with trinkets scattered all over her desk: nerdy office gadgets, souvenirs from travels, reed diffusers, and a bowl of candy (a must have). 😀 But hey, at least I never sported a Troll Doll on my desk. Every time I laid eyes on one of those on someone’s desk, I feel like regurgitating. I’d rather be shot into the core of the sun than having to be subjected those ugly, flame-haired plastic dolls anywhere near my peripheral vision if I have to share office space with anyone. 😀
On minimizing clutter. Thanks to our device’s notepads, we no longer need to keep lists hanging around littering our work space. Project sticky notes and all those lists we love to compile (my favorite is my Dubai restaurant bucket list) can quickly make your work space unruly. If you’re not using all of those nifty work apps like Basecamp, Trello, and Google Drive, then you are probably not only surrounded with too much paper, but not working optimally. I especially love myHours© app to track my virtual work hours.
And then there’s paper, oh that never-ending paper trail. Why do we still have paper, again? I don’t know. The only reason for paper to exist in an office is if there is a wet signature required, and even then you can scan and store that document once it’s received – except for legal or financial documents where you may need to whip them out in the future.
On that note, don’t go scan/shred-crazy before you know for sure. Best to find out what docs need to be preserved in their original form. When in doubt, check with your Lawyer or CPA. Thanks to the ESIGN act of 2000, digital and electronic signatures have the same legal standing as wet signatures. Nevertheless, some organizations and individuals still prefer handwritten signatures.
Unruly desk strategy: My new goal is for my desk to be even more practical, with minimal doodads hanging around. I admit I still do have a few. Which for me are often distracting. I had a tiny Buddha on my desk once and found myself lollygagging and staring at it for moments at a time.
The extra stuff I’ve allowed to remain on my desk:
- My purple amethyst (for intellectual stimulation and soothing of the mind)
- Neals Yard Remedies Study Oil. I just rub it on my temples when I need to really get focused. A lovely blend of 9 essential oils. I’m predicting this’ll be my desk staple for a long to come.
- Artificial tears (any brand) to alleviate my dry eye syndrome caused from the PC screen’s contrast, flicker, and glare.
That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.
My dream desk? Hmmmm. I’d say something high-tech and innovative like this touch desk. This is just wicked, but does not actually exist. I believe it WILL happen, though.
Check out this cool tutorial on clean and organized desk tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eqPBCC1rSY
It’s a new year – go ahead and treat yourself to a desk makeover! No better way to start the year than with a clean slate – literally. 😉
