| Even if you live in a part of the country where snow is | | | | Now get out the cleaning supplies and equipment. Dust |
| still on the ground and temperatures are still below | | | | everything in sight. Vacuum your floor. Use a can of air |
| freezing, you know for sure that spring is right around | | | | on your keyboard (you will be surprised at how much |
| the corner. And there is no better time to unclutter and | | | | icky stuff gets in between the keys). Check with your |
| spruce up not just your home, but your office as well. | | | | IT department as to whether they will give you |
| Whether you reside in a plush corner office or a small | | | | permission to blow out the dust from your computer's |
| cubicle you can bring a breath of fresh air to your | | | | fan and CD/DW drives. And pay attention to their |
| surroundings very easily. | | | | instructions carefully. If you don't already have them, |
| First of all get rid of the stuff that has been hanging | | | | ask your office manager (or whoever is responsible |
| out on your desk or on your shelves. If you haven't | | | | for ordering supplies) to order the specialized treated |
| used or looked at it for more than six months, chances | | | | cloths made to clean your monitor. Do not use paper |
| are you don't need it. So start with three piles: trash, file | | | | towels and glass cleaners or you will end up |
| and have to deal with. The trash pile gets shredded if | | | | destroying your monitor. Any surfaces that can be |
| need be or bagged up and off to the dumpster it goes. | | | | cleaned with a disinfectant should get wiped down to |
| Organize the file pile into folders labeled with | | | | get rid of all those nasty germs that have been floating |
| appropriate labels. Remember these are the items you | | | | around the office all winter. |
| truly need for either research or legal reasons such as | | | | Now open up your window(s) if possible even if it is |
| contracts, financial records, etc. And then you should | | | | only for a few minutes to let in some fresh air. Don't |
| have a very small pile of items that need to be | | | | forget to close and lock before you leave however. |
| addressed. Organize these into priority categories - | | | | Now you have a clean office add some fresh art |
| what has to be done today, by the end of the week, | | | | work, flowers, plants, and a great smelling candle. The |
| by the end of the month, etc. When your desk is not | | | | candle is not to be lit, but is to be used to add a light |
| cluttered up with piles of paper you are more | | | | pleasant scent to your office. The key words are light |
| motivated to get to the stuff that really has to be | | | | and pleasant. Don't overpower your space with heavy |
| tackled. | | | | scents, no one enjoys this. |