I knew that a messy desktop can distract from the task at had, but I had no idea how much. I recently read a post that said:
Participants at a UBC study took 10% more time to perform tasks when sitting at a messy desk (compared with control group at clean, organized desk).
Organize Your Desktop with These Six Items
Here are six well-priced items, totalling under $60 for all, that are effective tools to keep your desktop organized so that you can enjoy your workspace.
File Organizer – Files should always be upright on your desk. Why, you ask? Once you lay a file folder flat, you start to pile other things on top of it and it’s no longer accessible. A vertical file holder allows you to see the folder and label and you can slip papers into the proper folder quickly.
File Folders – I like end tab folders. They have tabs on the top and on the side. Perfect because no matter which way you have your file organizer facing, you can read the tabs on the folder.
Odds’n Ends Organizer – The perfect little holder for pens, notepads, loose papers, and other odds’n ends.
Notebook – Keep at least one notebook handy at all times. Write all your notes in it rather than little bits of paper here and there. If you like, have separate notebooks for different topics. But get into the habit of using it for your lists and notes and you’ll keep a tidier desktop.
Post It Tabs – Love, love, love! Keep them handy with your notebooks or your file folders so you can flag specific pages for easy reference.
Pens – A few different colour pens not only adds a touch of colour but you can make notes in different colours to help you highlight and separate ideas.
It doesn’t take much to keep your desktop tidy. These six items are reasonably priced and versatile. If you’re struggling to get your workspace tidied up, give this a shot. At these prices, you don’t have much to lose – but you have so much time to gain!