How to Organise My Desk — Simple Steps for a Tidy Workspace
On the days you feel slightly overwhelmed and are wading through a pile of stuff, you might wonder how to organise your desk? Organising your desk is one of the easier home projects (if you compare it to organising your life or paperwork), and it gives you a quick, visible result. If your desk is a mess right now, here is how to fix it.
I see learning how to organise your desk in the following 3 stages:
Clear physical stuff from your desk
Set up a paperwork and electronic file system
Create routines and habits for this system to work continuously
Clear the physical stuff from your desk
I like working from left to right or vice versa. Remove everything of your desk, give it a good clean, vacuum dust bunnies and wipe away marks as much as possible. One of the key things you need to keep your desk organised is bins. I recommend a standard bin and a recycling bin.
On our desks we have hardware, the pens, computer, the scissors etc. and software the computer. Lots of pieces of paper we have are only meant to live a short (hopefully meaningful) life.
Only put back what you need and will use. You can add things you want on the desk but ask yourself why? Does it inspire you, make you smile? Desk space is prime real estate and each item needs to earn its place.
When you place items back on your desk think through it?
Do you use the mouse left of right? (….does it need a clean?)
What side do your pens need to be?
Do you need a scissor and sticky tape or can you place this in a drawer if you have one?
Your files how many papers will end up on your desk?
How will you keep them aside?
Do you want standing files or flat facing files?
Folders or loose papers?
This seems like a lot of questions but I think the secret to organising your desk is acknowledging how you work.
Set up a paperwork and electronic file system
This is a project in and of itself and I have written about it here how to organise your paperwork. For now let’s focus on the physical aspects of learning how to organise your desk.
Example
I don’t like folders and plastic sleeves if I would set up a system like that I won’t use it. My default is placing papers in a file. I keep papers together with colour folders in which I can simply place the piece of paper. Yellow is work, purple is study. I simply grab the folder when I need it.
How to organise my desk – it needs to represent you
Overall you want your desk to be a blend between a functional and very comfortable space for you. It needs to invite you to sit there. I like having a sticky beak in the offices that I’ve been too there is a big difference in how people set up their desk. Some have plants, photos etc. others like minimalism so it looks like a hot desk. Finally some slowly transform their desk in a hot mess. The later we want to avoid and a way to do this is to think through and set up systems so you can keep your desk looking almost as good as the day you set it up.
A video on how to organise my desk
Here is a video in which I go through how to organise your desk and office
In the video I discuss:
How to have a clear goal
What I want to achieve
How I want to feel
How I go through the process and that the first little while it isn’t fun at all.
The way I used categories
That even though it wasn’t fun it only took a very short time to do it
In the next video I show how to organise a messy desk (which might have happend as I had a busy period)
Here I show:
How little time it actually takes
That organising isn't perfect you might have to pull the reigns on some areas do another declutter and organise session (and that is fine).
Everytime you do this, it becomes easier.
With these videos, I like to paint a realistic picture. You can do this, don’t expect unicorns and rainbows when you start organising. Things will get better easier and you will be glad you invested the time to get organise.
Create routines and habits for this system to work continuously
The key is to not only how to organise your desk but also how to keep it organised
Make it a place you like to spend time. Close loops as often as possible paperwork needs to flow through your desk and systems do not stagnate. Here are the articles I suggest you read:
How to organise:
I'll also talk about
School notes
University notes
Research papers
Learn how to organise
In this book I’ll help you Organise your Home and Paperwork.
The best system is the one you will actually use. Read, try it, tweak it. Your desk, your rules. It is your paperwork and your desk – make your mark!
Let me know how you organised your desk and your office, show some photos and ask questions when you get stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start organising my desk?
Remove everything from the desk first. Give it a clean. Then only put back what you actually use. Desk space is prime real estate — every item needs to earn its place. Start with what you use daily and work outward from there.
How do I keep my desk organised long-term?
The key is to close loops daily. Papers flow through your desk — they should not live there permanently. Set up a simple filing system (even one folder is enough), clear your desk at the end of each work session, and do a quick weekly reset to catch anything that has built up.
What should I keep on my desk?
Only what you use regularly — your computer, one pen, a notepad, and anything that actively supports your work. If something sits on your desk for a week without being touched, it does not belong there. Less is almost always better when it comes to desk surfaces.
