When was the last time you saw your desktop? 

If you’re drowning in piles of paper, try some of these simple tips to get your home office clean and keep it that way. (Hint: they’re easy and not time-consuming). 


1). Start from scratch.  If you have mountains of clutter on your desk and placed throughout the rest of your office, set aside at least an hour to clear out everything, and then only add the items that you use and need.

2). It’s so easy to get sidetracked and not put things back after you use them throughout the day. But it’ll make things a lot easier if you can get into the habit of putting everything in its place after you’re done using it or at the end of the day.

3). Schedule reminders for yourself to dust your computer monitor, printer, keyboard, and telephone. You’ll also want to keep disinfectant wipes within reach so you can wipe down your workspace regularly.

4). Cut down on paper usage by keeping all of your files on an external hard drive or on the cloud. Scan important business documents and cards. 

5). Move all your photos and videos to the cloud. I use Dropbox which is free and is easily accessible from any computer, tablet, or smart phone.

6). Try to avoid saving all of your files to your desktop. Try to keep them filed away in the appropriate folders and backed up on the cloud. 

7). Remove all personal items from your desktop except for one or two pictures. Maybe hang a picture over your desk or a cool piece of art to add some decor. 

8). It sounds so obvious, but get a filing cabinet for your financial information. Keep bank statements in one folder, receipts in another, etc., so you know where all of your important financial info is. 

Author(s)

  • Kristin Marquet

    Kristin Marquet is a founder and creative director of Marquet Media, LLC

    Marquet Media, LLC

    Kristin launched the emerging spinoff media company, FemFounder.co that helps creative female entrepreneurs plan, launch, and scale their businesses. FemFounder is a one-stop resource for everything on entrepreneurship, digital marketing, PR, and social media marketing. Now, Kristin runs Marquet-Media.com, a boutique creative consultancy that designs beautiful and feminine brands in the wedding, beauty and fashion, wellness and fitness, cooking, photography, and interior design industries. She also runs the luxury sustainable living magazine, TheGivingEarth.com.

    Passionate about learning, Kristin has advanced studies in data and marketing analytics. She has attended MIT, Boston University, and New York University and holds degrees in literature and marketing/public relations. She has contributed to Forbes.com, Inc.com, HuffingtonPost.com, Entrepreneur.com, and NYDailyNews.com.

    In 2015, she also authored the book, Squash the competition and Dominate your marketplace: 55 easy Tips to Generate Big Publicity for your startup or small business and in 2018 cowrote the Amazon bestseller, Publicity Jumpstart: 10 Ways to Get Your Brand in the Press. She is also the author of the upcoming book, From Nameless to Notable: How to Gain Influence, Establish Authority, and Reach Expert Status in Your Niche or Industry The Ultimate Guide to Generating Media Coverage for Your Startup and Leveraging It to Increase Website Traffic, Email Subscribers, and Sales. Most recently, she joined the Young Entrepreneur Council.

    Kristin is an endurance runner and lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Michael.