It’s Your Desk... Make It Work For You

If you recently completed a clutter clearing around your desk area to remove the decorative items, you’re now left with some open space for working. The next question is, how can you set up your desk to be the most productive? Your desk is an important tool.

How can you get the most benefit from this valuable piece of real estate?

Clear space. Plan to maintain a clear area right in front of you, at least the size of a desk blotter. This is the space where you will work on your current project. It should not have stacks of papers and miscellaneous objects occupying the area. When you have finished working on the project for the moment, put all the papers into a folder and back into your project drawer.

Telephone. The optimal placement for a phone is on your left side if you are right handed. That leaves your right hand free for taking notes without having a phone cord cutting in front of you and across your neck. Even better is to have a head set. Then you can type directly into your computer when you’re scheduling appointments or jotting down follow-up tasks.

Computer. Place the monitor directly in front of you but set back further. Since you want to keep the blotter space open for projects, you don’t want your keyboard placed right there. Using a keyboard tray to store under your desk when not in use allows you to keep the blotter space open. You can then still type without twisting and placing stress on your muscles.

Frequently Used Items. What you use on a daily basis should be placed within arm’s reach on the desktop so that you do not have to bend, stand, or swivel in your chair to reach these. A stapler and a small container for pens and pencils would be examples.

Desk Drawers.. Those items less frequently used, such as a pencil sharpener, scissors or a tape dispenser be placed in a desk drawer. Clear out the old food condiment packages and the accumulated file folders that you do not refer to any more. If you are fortunate to have desk drawer that will support hanging files, these should house your current project files and your tickler files (the ToDo items that you will be following up on). If you do not have any space for files in your desk, consider a two-drawer rolling file cabinet that can be placed next to your desk. Place action files in the top compartment and project files in the lower one.

Lighting. Is there sufficient light so that you are not straining your eyes? If you leave your office each day with a headache or tired eyes, make sure that lighting is not a cause. Test different arrangements to see which one you are most comfortable with. Be sure that your computer monitor is not reflecting the glare of the sun or of a direct light fixture. Change the angle of the monitor slightly to see if that might be more restful on your eyes.

Desk Position. Are you distracted when you are seated at your desk? It could be because the physical setup is not efficient. Angle your desk for a different perspective. Feng shui principles frown on having your back to a door, leaving you vulnerable, but you also do not want to have your desk placed so that you make eye contact with every person that walks by.

Sometimes a simple change can make a drastic difference in how you feel about coming in to your work zone and how productive you are with the time that you spend in that space. Be willing to experiment with different arrangements. After all, it is your area. It needs to be adjusted for your needs. The payout is increased efficiency – good for everyone’s bottom line.