My calculator, I’m sure I had it here somewhere. Where did I put the Penske file? Has anybody taken my USB stick? That Productivity Report was here on my desk last night, I’m sure it was, underneath all this mess, wasn’t it?

Seems to me if you or your staff can relate to the above then time is being wasted, productivity is being stifled, tensions are raised and money is lost. Hardly a work environment that management would advocate.

Business is always looking for ways to improve productivity, because let’s face it, the more productive the workforce the more effective and profitable that workplace will become. The basics are often overlooked and a clean working environment can achieve more productive minds enabling them to concentrate on the most important task at hand. So let me suggest some pointers likely to bring about a more highly productive office.

Let us start by setting aside time in your work day to start afresh. Depending on how messy and disorganised the workplace is will determine the length of time it will take. Let’s not be half hearted about this, when bad habits need changing it is best done by starting with a clean slate.

Strip bare your desktop and drawers. Have a rubbish bin nearby to dispose of any unessential items. Many people have a propensity to accumulate large quantities of unusable items that can only be described as ‘stuff’. Fearing the what if, they find it difficult to dispose of such items. Get tough on yourself, if it is unlikely it will be used then out it goes. File away all documents and files.

Personalising the workspace is common practice amongst workers however this often becomes excessive. Having an oversupply of photo frames, colections of stuffed toys and other inanimate objects often adorn a desk leading to not only a cluttered environment but can also be intrusive on others. Keep personal objects at a minimum.

Once all clutter is removed it’s time to give your desk a thorough clean, inside and out. It will probably be some time since many areas have seen the light of day so get yourself a rag and disinfectant and with some elbow grease clean every inch. Don’t forget the drawers.

Make sure your PC is clean. A microfiber cloth comes in handy here. Used in conjunction with a window cleaner can bring it up like brand new. Note that you lightly spray the cloth, don’t spray directly onto the screen.

Sigh… That’s it, deep breath. You’re well on your way to a cleaner, neater work environment.

Design and implement how your desk will best suit your working needs. These days we often require items such as iPads and iPhones. Arrange these chargers for easy access on your desk, preferably with a holder that stores them upright. A cordless keyboard and a cordless mouse are a big advantage. Whilst on designing, make sure you get yourself an ergonomic chair and you also have the proper lighting in place.

Get yourself a desktop organiser to store the necessary items used on a frequent basis. For the not so frequently used but necessary items, an organiser in the draw is the perfect place for them. An IN and OUT tray will help keep you organised throughout the day.

Refrain from replacing clutter, the hard work has been done, don’t ruin that by returning unnecessary items. Develop a routine of tidying your desk, one suggestion is at the end of each work day file all documents you have finished working on so the next day you start with a clean slate.

So there you go, job done. A clean working environment to encourage a productive mind. Now, back to work!