This passage is from the book, The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell recounts the research done by criminologists James Q. Wilson and George Kelling. Their research concludes that anarchy and chaos is contagious.

A lot of analogies have been drawn from The Broken Window theory. If you are a person who wants to be focused, organized and productive, you might think of physical and mental clutter as your broken window. Clutter has become a buzzword lately and many think a little clutter is no big deal. But, by allowing a handful of papers to reside on your desk or a couple of tasks to go unfinished, you may soon be surrounded by stacks of paper, and you may have many undone to-dos in no time at all. Clutter is just as contagious as anarchy as described in The Tipping Point.

Clutter is a colossal diversion. A messy desk and a messy mind will draw your attention away from the important work you need to focus on. Organizing your work area so you can store the things you need to do your work and find them quickly is vital to being focused, organized and productive.

Here’s a straightforward way to make sure distracting clutter doesn’t accumulate and take over your office. Simply think of your kitchen. Your kitchen is probably pretty well organized because you have a place for everything. The dishes go in one cabinet, the glasses in another, and the silverware goes in a particular drawer. The great thing about having designated places for everything is that even if you have a party and the kitchen gets discombobulated, you know how to get it back in order. You are clear about where to put everything. Usually you can do it relatively quickly and without stress.

So...back to your office. There are only two steps to make your office as easy to organize as your kitchen.

Step 1 – Decide on designated places for everything you store.

• * If you keep paper, you need a good filing and finding system.

• * Digital files need a system for storing and finding.

• * For binders and books, you need shelves.

• * Supplies need a closet or cabinet.

Step 2 – Form the habit of putting things away when you are finished with them.

• * Projects create mess...cleaning up afterward is just as vital as cleaning up the kitchen.

• * Putting things back where they belong means you’ll find them the next time without wasting time searching.

• * Clean spaces feel better, and allow work and ideas to flow and stress to go away.

Put an end to Broken Windows by following this simple 2-step solution, and clutter will no longer keep you from your important work.

 ©2010 Anne Sedler, HFD Productivity Associates, LLC. All Rights Reserved. You are free to use this article, provided the content remains unchanged and credit is appropriately given to the author with a link to www.hfdproductivity.com.