Came across a great post over at Ian’s Messy Desk about the importance (and achievement) of a clean workspace. I especially like #2:
Get rid of sticky notes and scraps of paper. Get a single notebook and use it to record notes, phone numbers, web addresses, ideas, to-dos, etc.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone rooting through my desk looking for some small scrap of paper that I scrawled some number on or something. Having all of your notes, etc. in a single spot is a great way to avoid looking for old gas receipts that have that new client’s cell phone number on them.
A couple additional tips that build on that idea:
- Add a date/time stamp to your notes/messages (well, maybe not ALL of them, but at least occasionally so you’ll have a point of reference when you searching back for the notes on that big meeting you had 3 months ago)
- Always archive your old notebooks. Once you get to the last few pages of one, make sure you’ve either got a new one on deck or on the way from your favorite stationary joint. When the new guy arrives, break out the labeler and label the old notebook with start/end dates, then stick on a bookshelf somewhere. They take up almost no space and provide a good history for you when it comes time for your annual review.
Anyway, the post is full of great tips on keeping your desk clean, so be sure to check it out!
Technorati Tags: productivity, work, desk, cleanliness
Written by Brett Kelly
Practical, The Office