About the Author Diana Holwerda is a mother of 2 children, married and lives on the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney. She moved to Australia from the Netherlands in 2000 and has been in various administrative roles from administrative assistant, PowerPoint specialist, Office Manager, to Personal Assistant and Executive Assistant in the corporate world. She started PA on the GO while on maternity leave and hasn’t looked back! She now has a team of professionals including SEO specialist, graphic designer and bookkeeper. She also runs a network for women/ mums in business on the Northern Beaches of Sydney called Mum Entrepreneurs Pty Ltd together with business partner, Banika Smee.
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Running PA on the GO from home (actually from a corner in the bedroom) has given me the incentive to use my desk space as creative as possible. Here are my 7 Steps to Organise your Desk! 1. Remove everything from your desk. Place your phone on your left if you're right handed and on the right if you're left handed. Display personal items elsewhere.
2. Keep a spiral notebook by the phone for messages and phone notes. Write your voice mail messages in it and delete them from the system. Jot down reference notes before you make a call to reduce phone time. Any jobs that did not get done just highlight them so you know which ones to get started on the following day
Remember a messy desk makes a cluttered mind! To focus on your business and the tasks to do that day you need to clear your desk. Organise is the key to Success! 3. Set up a system for active files either in a step file sorter on your desk or in your file drawer. Sort your paperwork into it: Do, Awaiting Answer, File, Hold, Read and Refer. 4. Create folders for your emails e.g. per client/ project and any emails that needs a response “flag it” so it goes on your “Task List”
5. Move your inbox: Instead of the traditional tray or file folders on your desk for your inbox or action items, if you have a small desk you could mount those folders to the side of your desk to clear clutter.
6. Hide things behind your monitor or under your desk: The back of your monitor is a wonderful spot for hidden storage. You can attach pens, index cards, external hard drives and more. A keyboard tray mounted under your desk or a pegboard for cables and peripherals can also clean up your workspace. 7. Tame your cables: Cable clutter looks bad, even when you have a giant workspace, and it looks even worse in a tiny one. Over the years we’ve noted lots of cable management solutions, from the insanely useful binder clip to socks to rain gutters and to eyehooks, so you can take your pick and keep those cables from crowding your workspace.
Of course if you are still struggling to get the desk and your desktop organised and working for you and not against you ! Please contact PA on the GO to help you and your business!