How to Set Up Your Desk: A Guide to Fixing a (Surprisingly) Overlooked Productivity Problem

by Matt Perman

If you have a second drawer unit, it is useful to use its file drawer to hold empty file folders.

5.7

There is never a reason to have a junk drawer!

You keep in your drawers only an amount of each item that you need to have in use. Extras go away from your desk in a supply area,

The Components of an Office/Workspace There are six (sometimes seven) components of your broader work area: The desk, of course Reference area Storage area Project shelf Meeting area Brainstorming area Lounge area (maybe)

6.0

This is what we covered in detail in the previous chapters, so there is no need to go into more detail here.

6.1

The reference area is where you keep books, binders, and anything that is large enough to need a shelf.

6.2

As I mentioned earlier in this series, you should keep at your desk the supplies that you use, but keep extras away from your desk in a storage area.

6.3

For example, keep staples in your stapler, but keep the box of staples in the storage area.

6.3.1

The storage area can be an overhead bin or a closet.

6.3.2

In my supply closet at home, I keep extra supplies, equipment, and books that are more administrative which I don’t want on my main bookshelves. I keep the extra supplies in plastic drawer units like these:

6.3.3