Spring Cleaning is in the air!  The warmer temperatures, colorful flowers and breezy days are all the season’s signs of refreshment and renewal.  The spring season beckons me to organize closets, work in the yard, plant flowers and spruce up my home. You can do a little spring cleaning in your office too!  Let the season of new beginnings kick off a fresh start at work.   Chances are you have been buried in year-end financials, budgets, deals and tax preparation during the winter months.   The following checklist will guide you through your office Spring Cleaning.  Keep in mind that cleaning and organizing at work is not a waste of precious work hours.   This process will help you become a more efficient and organized worker.  Before you get started, read through the checklist and tailor it to meet your individual work area.

Bookshelves

• Remove any books, magazines, and items you no longer need, enjoy or are outdated.
• Dust the shelves and any remaining pictures and trinkets.
• Organize books and magazines for quick reference by placing them in

Computer         

• Backup your hard-drive, wipe down your screen and keyboard.
• Spend a few minutes cleaning up your email file by deleting unnecessary messages, and unsubscribing to newsletters and ads.

Papers               

• Discard/shred any documents you no longer need.
• File away the papers you need to keep on your desktop, credenza, and shelves.

Files

• Clean out files by going through them and discarding or moving to your reference files any old, outdated materials.  (For example, old insurance policies, older tax filings, contracts, bank statements, medical insurance paperwork, etc.).
• Reorganize your files so the ones you access the most often are the easiest for you to reach.

Drawers

• Organize your desk drawer so the items you access the most are closest to you.
• Put similar items together in separated compartments.
• Refill supplies as necessary.

Task List

• Write down or record electronically all To-Do items down on your task list as you are organizing and cleaning.

Desktop

• Dust and clean off the desktop with the appropriate cleaner for the surface.

Spring cleaning your office will be worth your effort.  When you enter the office, you will feel less stressed and more energized to get started on your day.  Happy Spring Cleaning!   Sara Genrich is an Organization and Productivity Consultant, an Evernote Certified Consultant, and the creator of the Organizing @ Work for Success Workshop series.

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