The Office Gal

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Hey, is that you behind that monstrous assortment of stuff cluttering your desk? Most people don’t even realize it, but a disorganized desk can cause tremendous frustration and lost productivity that can mean staying late at the office. Fact is, a messy desk makes it extremely difficult to go about your daily routine.

To follow are some practical suggestions for avoiding desktop distractions:

1) File immediately. Anyone who visits our news articles section regularly knows that we cannot say this enough: avoid pile-ups! We know it can be difficult to keep up with your filing when you get really busy, but to keep your desk neat and orderly, its imperative that you don’t allow paperwork to grow into unmanageable stacks.

2) Use the tops of credenzas and lateral file cabinets. These pieces of organizing furniture can be found in almost every office. And even if you work in a cubicle, there’s probably a flat-top credenza or cabinet nearby, providing space where you can store such things as binders and catalogs…rather than letting them clutter your desktop.

3) Utilize shelves. This is another smart location for storing things that might otherwise cause confusion by taking up space on your desk. A shelf, not your desk, is the proper place for items such as phone books, magazines and videos.

4) Create drop spots. Perhaps a basket designed to hang on your wall, or some other kind of receptacle to temporarily drop memos, notes and other small papers…keeping those kinds of easy-to-lose documents off your desk until you have time to look at them.

5) Try not to get too personal. Minimize the urge to clutter your desk with an excessive amount of personal items, such as photographs and knick-knacks. Of course, its great to have some of these in your workspace, just don’t overdo it so that your desk is covered with them.

6) Accessorize. Office organizers, such as file sorters with different compartments, and plastic bins that can hold almost anything, are ideal for storing a wide array of office materials that might instead accumulate on your desk.

Do you have a tip or suggestion when it comes to cleaning the desktop? Then share it with the readers of The Office Gal. Leave a comment or contact me and I will add it to our list!

This article was originally posted at and written by Jane Servenio of American Folder Company and has been re-printed at The Office Gal with permission.

The one bad part about having a great job that you love is the décor of your office your cubicle; basically the cubicle itself. A boring shade of gray or blue, a cubicle is a company’s cheapest route when it comes to making sure everyone has some privacy without having to rebuild the already formatted office. Cubicles are also a god-send for those offices lacking in space, but needing room for many more.

Past experience working in cubicles has left a sour taste in my mouth. A 3 foot by 3 foot area to call my own, with a depressing shade of blue or gray, sometimes both, that can leave you very depressed about going into work. The hardest part about working in a cubicle setting, everyone knows your business, leaving you with a feeling of your personal space being violated.

Well, over the past few years cubicles have taken the high road. Designers are giving the old cubicle a face lift, coming out with energetic looks that will give you reason to wake up and sprint off to work. OK, maybe not that great, but still awesome none the less.

I could definitely work in this cubicle setting, could you? Designed by Douglas Ball the cubicle offers a workspace worth working in; privacy, but still able to communicate with your team, and an added feature, a closing door for added privacy or a notice that you are busy at work.

I like the look of this cubicle because it has a very clean appealing look. Plus, an easy to clean feel so that you can easily clean the cubicle walls, something a bit difficult to do if you were ever lucky enough to spend time inside a blue or gray carpeted cubicle. You know what I’m talking about – shredding fabric that everything clung to.

Another cubicle that I found a bit interesting and that you have to see is by Knoll A3 Office. A design of what many think looks like the “furniture of the future”, takes on a whole new concept in workstations.

Really not seeing much privacy offered by this creation, but I find it to be a stylish way to go for a cubicle. A smart idea! Do you live in a loft setting? Use this cubicle to separate your office from the rest of your home.

It doesn’t look it from standing in the door way, but your office could be dirty sick and could make you sick right along with it. Germs are everywhere, we all know this. There is no way to avoid them, but we can do out best to reduce them and try to keep ourselves a bit healthier in the meantime.

According to a germ study conducted in 2001 by Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona, the top five spots most contaminated with germs in an office setting are: phones, desktops, water fountain handles, microwave door handles and keyboards. Gross! The most touched items within your office are also the most germ-ridden items.

Don’t freak out. These are items that are easily overlooked in an office. Even in larger office settings where a cleaning team is already in place, these items may still only be cleaned once per week. Take it upon yourself to keep a healthy office.

Always keep antibacterial wipes available. Use these wipe to clean your desk top, telephone, and keyboard. This will help you to contact on spreading germs, especially if you have come down with a cold. You can avoid spreading those germs back to you, or anyone else for that matter. I suggest as you leave your office for the day, pull out a wipe and wipe away. One a weekly basis wipe down chair and desk handles – things you touch once in a while, but still carry germs.

Use hand sanitizer. Is someone sick in your office? Do you think you are coming down with something? After touching door knobs, or someone else’s keyboard or phone, use the sanitizer.

Wash your hands, especially after using the bathroom and before you eat. Remember, your hands have touched your keyboard and phone most likely prior to eating. Wash your hands.

Wash drinking glasses, mugs, and utensils. Don’t leave these items in the sink for someone else to take care of them. They are your items, you wash them, that way you know they are clean.

Vacuum your area. If your office has cleaners that vacuum nightly or weekly, you may not feel the need to do this. If you work in a small office that cleans themselves or has a cleaner monthly, Vacuum at least twice a week. Food has fallen on the floor, dust settles, plus who knows what has been tracked in, vacuum.

Smart point: if you work in a cubicle with those lovely fabric walls, vacuum those as well. People never think about the dust and germs that settle on the cubicle wall. Just like carpeting, cubicle walls attract it all too.

Get some office plants. Seems silly to write this after everything else, but plants will help clean your air and can also just liven up your office space.

And last but not least if you are sick, stay home. I know, easier said then done, right? I have been known to be bad on this point. Realize that if your are sick, going into a not-so-healthy environment will not make you better and will only make others sick.

Are there any points you would like to add on how you make your office a bit healthier to work in? Leave a comment and let us know.