Get your work area organized—and watch your business grow.

By Kathleen Moran

Is the clutter in your office getting in the way of your success? An organized, peaceful work environment is essential not only for your day-to-day business activities, but also for your well-being. Eliminating office chaos will improve your overall workflow and productivity. Whether you are working out of your garage, at your dining room table or in an office, make sure you have an effective clutter-busting system in place.

Here are five basic rules to keep your office clutter-free.

1. Clean out. In order to work at your desk, you need to see it. A messy desk will clutter your mind with too many distractions, and you’re more prone to losing important papers or being unable to find them when you need them…like when your biggest client calls. Remember this rule: Messy desk =stress.

The same tenet applies to a messy office. If you moved into your new office five months ago, it’s time unpack those boxes in the corner, and hang the pictures leaning against the wall.

2. Everything in its place. Set up a filing system. Instead of letting papers pile up on your desk, file them as soon as you are done with them. Some documents can be filed electronically, saving space and eliminating paper waste. Use baskets, containers and shelving. Arrange reference guides neatly on a bookshelf. Keep today’s “to-do” pile in a basket on your desk. If you’re one of those people who needs to have papers “in your face” or you forget them, use an upright file holder on your desk, or a wall-hanging folder holder, to keep folders corralled so you don’t have piles all over your desk. Place a wastepaper basket or shredder within arm’s reach so you can discard unneeded papers right away. When you have dealt with something, either file it properly or throw it out immediately. Apply the “everything in its place” principle to your office, and you’ll never be searching for the stapler again.

3. Keep it ergonomically correct. Ergonomic design focuses on designing a workspace to fit your body’s needs. If your chair is uncomfortable, you will tire sooner and won’t be working to your full potential. Invest in a good chair that’s adjustable to your height and has proper back support. Make sure your computer setup doesn’t put undue strain on your neck, shoulders or wrists. Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle when you type; your computer screen should be angled so you don’t have to strain your neck either up o downward to read it. Use a pullout keyboard tray under your desk for your keyboard, if needed. Make sure your office is well lit, both overhead and task lighting such as a desk lamp for reading. Position your computer screen so it is free of glare from the windows. Provide an ergonomically correct workspace for each employee, as well.

4. Keep your computer clean. Just as a clutter-free office runs more efficiently, so does a clutter-free computer. Run maintenance programs on a regularly scheduled basis to debug your system and purge unwanted files. Keep your security software up-to-date to prevent viruses and potential hackers from gaining access to your files. Streamline the look of your office by controlling loose cords. In addition to being aesthetically unappealing, this can cause safety hazards such as tripping or electric shock. Your office supply store has many options for bundling cords together to keep them neat and out of the way.

5. Be consistent. At the end of each work day, leave your work area organized. Put everything back in its proper place. Take 10 or 15 minutes before you leave to organize your workspace. The next day, you can start with a clean slate and focus on seizing the day.

Kathleen Moran is an interior designer and workspace organization expert. She can be reached at katmo66@mac.com.