Tackling Clutter at Work – Keys to an Organized Office

The Michigan chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers wishes to share some tips for reducing clutter at your office.  Greater organization at work results in increased job satisfaction, more time, and less stress – all of which contribute positively to one’s quality of life.

There are several areas that commonly challenge people at their offices.  They include the desk; papers and files; storage systems; and emails. 

The desk should be our office’s “command central,” which is free of extraneous items that can affect our productivity.  Limit the top of our desk to the items we use and need on a regular basis.

Papers and files should be dealt with routinely so that things do not pile up.  We need to have a good system for processing mail and keeping track of important deadlines.   Basic paper management allows for easy retrieval of documents within one’s file cabinet.  A file index will help to find a particular item in short order. 

We should also use our storage systems efficiently.  For example, manuals and catalogs which we refer to only rarely should not crowd out our immediate work area.  Aim to have nearby only those things which are necessary to the everyday operations of our office.  The rest can be kept off site, whether in a storage closet or even in a remote facility.

Finally, emails often constitute another source of office clutter.  If we let them, they can easily consume a great deal of time.  Instead of constantly monitoring our inbox, set aside 2 or 3 times a day for reading and responding to emails.  Organize them as you would regular papers.  Set up specific folder categories for emails so that you can locate them at a later date.  Use the “out of office” reply and make the “delete” key your friend.

NAPO Michigan has been pleased to offer these helpful hints for organizing your office.  For further organizing tips, please visit www.NapoMichigan.com.

Submitted by Michigan chapter Member Rita Wilhelm, Cluttergone® LLC.  Website: www.cluttergone.com.

When you need a Paperclip, can you find one?

If you can’t find one when you need one, it’s probably time to organize your desk.


The National Association of Professional Organizers in Michigan wants to share some tips on how to organize your desk, whether it’s at home or the office.


1. First think about whether you are a person who likes things in sight, or out of sight. One good rule of thumb is to only keep within arm’s reach, those office supplies that you use on a daily basis. If you like things out, find a nice tray to put out those items on your desk. Or install a narrow shelf, 5 inches deep, above your desk so items like a stapler and tape dispenser are within reach but off the work surface of the desk.


If you like things kept out of sight, keep these items in a drawer or decorative box on whatever side you write with. People are most comfortable using their dominant hand to reach for things so place things where you can easily reach in the drawer for them.


2. For those items that were in your desk that you use less frequently, like spare printer cartridges, find a place further away from your desk, like a nearby closet, to store those items.


3. A kitchen silverware tray can make a good drawer organizer for things like smaller items like pens, pencils, staples, and paper clips. Label the side or bottom of the divided areas in the tray so everyone knows where an item goes back.


Lastly, if you find yourself having to go to your desk repeatedly to get an office supply like scissors that you use elsewhere, buy yourself an additional pair to keep where you tend to use it, whether it’s in the family room or breakroom. That way, the items in your newly-organized desk will be there the next time you need them.



Organizing your desk can be easier than you think. For more organizing tips visit http://www.napomichigan.com/. 


Article submitted by Chapter member Cindy Greenleaf.