The Cacophony of Clutter

This summer Golden Pacific Systems’ East Bay Division will be moving into a more efficient distribution center. We are all excited about the upcoming site improvement, and are eagerly anticipating the many benefits that our customers will reap from the efficiency upgrade. This is an overall positive event, but the change has caused some consternation as we look around our current office, where we have spent the better part of two decades, and realize just how challenging it will be to purge the collection of clutter prior to our move.

Twenty years is a long time, but this distraction of disorder could have been avoided by following a few simple rules:

• Implement a clean desk policy where desks must be cleared of excess paperwork at the end of each day.
• Date reports and miscellaneous material with an expiration date. Spend a few minutes each week reviewing items that have reached their “use or discard by” date and get rid of dead weight.
• Ask the right questions when reviewing dated items, including: When was the last time you used it? Why would you need it again? Is it easily replaceable?
• Discard newsletters or periodicals that are piling up for more than two weeks (either hard copies on your desk or electronic versions in your email).
• Reevaluate stagnate “projects” that have been dormant for more than a month. If the benefits of completing the project are worth the time, take the time to get it done right away. If the benefits do not justify the time required, abandon the task.

Each unnecessary piece of paper within eyesight has its own little voice demanding attention and creating disorder.  Don’t expend energy ignoring those voices. Dedicate that energy to silencing them. You’ll be amazed at how must more productive you can be without the cacophonous chorus of clutter.

Gail O’Roke, CDC
Vice President, East Bay Division