Having a Clean Desk Can Help You Become a Better Writer!
If you follow these tips and work hard to keep organized all you’ll have to do is dust every once in a while.
1. Start with a clean slate. Move everything off the top and place it on the floor or a table next to you. Throw out those things that are not needed, like old papers, or torn scraps of paper. Organize all papers into piles. If you need to keep papers, purchase a cheap file cabinet or box, and file them there. If your surface is large enough, frequently used papers may go in baskets, binders, or racks on top. Clear off the knick-knacks, too, and find a better place for them. A few objects that are meaningful or inspirational could occupy the back corners or hang on a nearby wall.
2. Prioritize. Decide which are your most important and most-used items. Items such as pencils, pens, and scissors can be stored in a mug, cup or better yet, a desk organizer.
3. Larger items. These are those that are used often such as a telephone, books, notebooks, and daily calendar, even the wastebasket, put within easy reach.
4. Little items. Make this the last part of organizing. These are the little things, like a stapler, pencil and penholder, paper clips, and address books or a small file that are constantly being used, and are extremely necessary. A drawer organizer with many compartments can help to corral these items.
5. Papers. Place all loose papers in a desk box, one on top of the other. Mark them “in” and “out,” so to know which have to be worked on, and which are finished.
6. Replenish your supplies when necessary.
7. Get a good light for the top of your desk. This is essential for writing at night
8. Consider getting a desk blotter. They protect your desk and offer a clean surface on which to write.
Now that you have cleared away all the clutter and are organized lets arrange your computer.
1. Arrange your computer screen and surrounding lights to avoid glare and reflection.
2. If your computer’s terminal is next to the monitor, move it to the area next to your feet, under your desk. This way, you can only see the monitor, leaving less room for distractions.
3. On the desktop of your computer, remove all unnecessary icons to the recycle bin, or to your “My Documents” folder, where they will be out of sight.
4. Install a desktop search tool, such as Google Desktop or Copernic, to find ideas within notes and writings on the computer.
If you are writing by hand or computer, in either case, here are some ideas for your comfort and to make your day more productive.
1. Get a nice comfortable chair. This is probably the most expensive item that you need to take into consideration. A chair needs to be comfortable, supports your back, not to big and not to small. Do you want arms or not? Do you want it to rock, and/or swivel? When shopping for a good chair that you will spend a large portion of your day in, test-drive them all. Spend some time setting in each and everyone for a good 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Is your desk in a quiet location? Concentration is the key for a good writer. Move your desk if necessary to a quiet room or if there are people around, announce you are working and shut the door.
3. Have a clock nearby, either, on the wall, or a small one on the corner of your desk.
4. Keep a notebook or legal pad close at hand to jot down ideas and organize thoughts when they hit you. If you wait, you’ll never remember what they were.
5. Make sure your desk lamp does not cast a shadow on your writing. If you are right- handed, place your lamp to the left side of your desk. If you are left-handed, place the lamp on your right.
6. Keep your reference materials nearby. Dictionary, and thesaurus, could occupy a small part of your desk. Use bookend to prop-them-up right. This takes less room. If you refer to many books while you are writing, you will need a bookcase nearby.
7. If you are working at home, be sure to let everyone know, that you have regular working hours and your not home just to chat on the phone. Family and friends can be annoying when it comes to the telephone.
8. Make sure you set aside a regular time to address, toss, file and handle the things that stack up on your desk, particularly regular mail, email and any phone calls to be made. A good time is about 45 to 30 minutes before the close of your day.
9. If you like to write elsewhere, than your desk, consider a portable “desk.” A pen and notebook or a stack of index cards will do. If you want a more elaborate on the go set up, try a briefcase, backpack or a covered binder. There are lots of options out there today.
