Are You Addicted to Office Supplies?
Do you find yourself buying school supplies every fall, even though you graduated years ago? Some other indications that you might have an office supply addiction are:
- More than one pencil cup on your desk.
- A stash of paperclips too cute to use.
- Pretty binders purchased to hold papers you never look at.
- Note pads in shapes that can’t be squared.
I have encountered more than one desk covered in supplies with no space allotted for working and using the supplies. The right tool for the job creates an easy to navigate work session and allows good ideas to flow, and routine tasks to get done with minimal effort. Office supplies need to be useful first, then aesthetically pleasing.
A small assortment of favorite functional things in your desk makes work a joy. Your work surface is for frequently used items only. Life is too short to write with pens you don’t like.
Having too many office supplies creates frustration and negatively affects your work, focus and time. Too many note pads scattered about the house or office leads to lists in every room and messages by the wrong phone. Use one pad at a time until it is gone.
Eliminate the excess and save time looking for the pen that writes or the notepad with enough room to finish your thought.
Take a little time to determine which supplies you actually use. If you don’t have a bulletin board you don’t need push pins. Remember, your supply choices reflect your personal brand. That should make it easier to leave some options at the store.
Set up a central supply area for extra supplies and the stuff you don’t use everyday. The space you free up will be a catalyst for creativity.
This article originally appeared in Sage, August 2010
Tags: distraction, Habit, home office, organize, organizing, routine, simplify, Simplifying, storage, streamlining, supplies, systems
