The Clutter Monkey - Part Two

STEP ONE: Purge the monkey - one finger at a time. Take everything off the desk, especially if it has nothing to do with your business there. Personal items - gone. Plants - gone. Everything. Clean top. Put all papers, files, objects - everything into a *hot zone box. It's only temporary until you can cull what you need and either file or toss.

STEP TWO: Wash the surface of your desk or table. It may seem symbolic of a clean start and help far more than you realize. Once this is done congratulate yourself. Take a bow. In fact take a bow after each step. Rewards, big and small, are a plus.

STEP THREE: Put back only the large items that relate to what you need: telephone, computer, printer etc. Dust them if you have to. All other items, souvenirs, squeaking frogs, etc must go elsewhere. Put 'em in the basement and deal with them later.

STEP FOUR: Place a plastic bin for mail, flyers etc. to be looked into on the top right hand side. Have a small basket or bin for envelopes to mail out. Also a small letter holder on a shelf will serve the same purpose to show you immediately in full view what has to go out. Some people prefer In/Out baskets. But it's funny how easily they get filled up with anything but. Have a small bin or multi drawer unit dedicated to supplies such as: stapler, pens, paper clips, scissors, tape etc. Having them loose is a call to clutter. A cup for pens and pencils is all right as it enables easy access.

STEP FIVE: Have a blue recycling bin nearby to EASILY toss all unwanted, unsolicited direct mail and flyers, papers, plastic bits, cardboard etc. into. The best and easiest recycling bin to use in a kitchen environment is a slim rectangular one measuring 6"wide x 11-1/2" long x 16" deep. One outlet for these is Canadian Tire. Price $7.00 Cdn. They fit neatly beside a desk or table and better screw directly onto the door beneath a sink where you can also use them to toss just washed yogurt containers, bottles etc. into. Very, very handy.

STEP SIX: Start filing only one item at a time. Fill the hanging bin half to three quarters full of folders. Make sure the plastic labels with the cardboard inserts are attached. Keep about 30 manilla folders at the ready.

STEP SEVEN: Pick up one piece of paper from the pile. Identify what it is. If it's a bill then take out a hanging file folder and mark it "Bills". Use an electronic labeler if possible to make everything look neat. Next place a manila folder within the hanging one to differentiate this bill from one that needs to be paid etc. If this is a bill already paid then place it in the manila file folder you now mark "Bills Paid". Insert that into the hanging file folder and insert that into the plastic bin. This seems remedial until you have 25-30 folders filed. It's all portable so when you want to file all the contents to your larger filing cabinet for longer term storage you can lift up the whole bin or just bits from it and off you go. You've given yourself a time saving way (in the long run) to de-clutter your desk and your life. It is very do-able every day. (Unpaid bills should really be out and visible or have a bulletin board with post-its noting bills and deadlines for due dates).