The Best Items to Help Create a Tabletop Disaster
We all want to pretend that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but for many of us, it’s our table. It’s also supposed to be a productivity haven , and it probably is, but it could always be better. Try a few of these updates to improve the organization of your desk—at home or in the office—while making it a more pleasant place to work.
Raise your computer
See how you interact with your laptop. Are you kind of hunched over it even though it takes up a ton of space? Not good. A laptop stand has many benefits : it allows you to sit a little straighter, helps relax your arms, prevents your computer from overheating, and protects it from accidental spills. Plus, it frees up desk space that you can use for other things, like the organizational tools below.
What you really want is something simple, so try something like this:
Your desk also needs (lots of) storage space.
Then it’s time to reconsider your storage situation. There’s been plenty of research into how clutter affects your well-being and productivity (and vice versa), but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that when your space is disorganized, you simply won’t be as productive as you could be. be. Seeing clutter all day is distracting and tiring, and makes it difficult to access the tools you need to get the job done.
Organizing that desk can help you be more productive, so use the decluttering method to get rid of everything you don’t need. Then follow the rules of the Organizational Triangle , specifically those that dictate that everything you own must have a designated storage location and be stored together with similar items.
An important component of all this is having the right storage boxes and solutions on hand. For your desk, you will need small containers in which to store various office supplies. Try something like this:
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A wire mesh organizer with slots for pens and pencils, a small shelf for standing items, smaller holders for tape and other small items, and a drawer for tools such as clippers. ($11.99)
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Larger wire mesh organizer with compartments for paper products and books, large shelf for flat items, sectional drawer for smaller items and side holder for taller utensils. ($23.26)
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Under desk drawer system , also made of wire mesh, with two layers and divided drawers to store and separate tools of all sizes while saving desk space. ($33.99)
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16 stackable acrylic drawers to store small items while keeping them visible. ($34.94)
Improve your lighting situation
There’s also been significant research into how lighting affects productivity, but again, you don’t have to read about it in a peer-reviewed journal to know that you perform better when you can see what you’re doing. I know I feel lazy when I work in a dark room, which is why I’m such a big proponent of having little lamps everywhere .
Since our goal is to organize your space and make it more productive, try this lamp, which has storage compartments at the base that are perfect for storing sticky notes, pens, and other small items. It also has a power outlet and a USB port so you can charge your devices.
The equipment on your desk also needs organization.
Your desk is covered in technology. This is your computer, maybe a separate keyboard and mouse, tablet, phone, and anything else you’ve connected, like a clock, lamps, or smart home devices. All of this needs some help to prevent a rat’s nest of cords from forming.
I trust the Smartish Magnetic Cord Holder. It looks like a rock, but it’s actually a big magnet. You can simply throw the charging cords over it and they will stay in place. Plus, it comes in muted, varied colors so it’s easy on the eye.
For larger cords hanging off the table, I recommend separate holders with adhesive backing. Individual ones are better than long ones with multiple slots because you can arrange them in a way that makes sense depending on your personal desk configuration. They can attach to the top or side of a table, open easily to allow the cord to pass through, and prevent it from slipping or getting tangled with other cords.
Other tips for organizing your desk
To truly master a system that ensures everything has a place and keeps like items together, you’ll need to use all those little compartments and drawers. But you also need to know what’s in them. It doesn’t hurt to purchase a small label maker ($15.99) to keep everything identified.
Finally, this may seem obvious, but my messy desk took a turn for the better when I finally put a small trash can underneath it instead of relying on myself to move all my trash to the main trash bin every few hours. Sometimes you just work too long and you don’t feel like doing it. The mini bin will immediately remove clutter from your desk, keeping it clean so you can focus on your work. I love this set of two metal mesh for $16.49.