Keeping Your Desk Organized
by Brenda Prinzavalli

As with any organizing project, getting items sorted and organized is an important first step. Many feel the project is finished once everything looks nice and neat. In reality, that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to “staying organized” because life starts happening and things tend to get cluttered again.

Here are questions to help you assess why your desk becomes messy as well as the solution for breaking the clutter cycle. Before you read on, take a look at your desk and make note of what’s cluttering it.

Is it office supplies that are scattered all over your desktop? Pens, paperclips, stapler, post-its, 3-hole punch, etc?

Solutions — Get a good drawer organizer and give yourself structural support to keep supplies organized.


Do you get an item out and don’t put it away?

Solution — Discipline. After you use it put it away!


Too many office supplies?

Solution — Get rid of the masses of supplies in your working space and only have a handful of the items you work with on a daily basis.


Do you have papers, mail, lists and business cards stacked on your desk?

This is a big issue for any desk space, so here is a brief overview of several solutions that will get you started.

Solution 1 — You must have a system for processing the paper items that pass through your space.

Solution 2 — If having the time to process paper in your life is the issue then look at how to make the most of your time when you are working on this task and how to get outside support for this process.

Solution 3 — If you are going to be the one processing, than be sure you make decisions about items and handle it the first time you touch the paper. Be decisive and disciplined.


Do you seem to have a collection of items on your desk that belong elsewhere in the house? Coffee cups, plates, fingernail polish, tennis balls, CD’s, etc?

Solution — Put things were they belong! Either do it right when you’re finished or have a clean sweep break once or twice a day.


Is it simply a lack of self-discipline that causes your desk to get cluttered? Many times I hear people say, “I know what I need to do, I just don’t do it.” 

Solution 1 — Schedule a time for you to maintain your office space.

Solution 2 — Create rewards and consequences for yourself.


If you’ve been in a pattern of cleaning and sorting again and again only to have it end up the way it was before you cleaned it, I invite you to try something different. Create a new system and pattern for your desk area so it stays neat and organized. It keeps your mind clear and provides the environment for staying focused which is a great support for success!

Brenda Prinzavalli is a professional organizer and owner of Balanced Organizing Solutions brenda@balorg.com www.balorg.com 702-375-0585

Brenda Prinzavalli is founder of, Balanced Organizing Solutions. Visit her website at www.balorg.com or email Brenda at brenda@balorg.com  For additional information call, 702-375-0585