New Year, New You on #CleanOffYourDeskDay

TFW you’re trying to “new year, new me,” but “old me” had other plans. I returned from a relaxing holiday ready to dig into my dusty inbox, pick up projects from weeks past, and generally remind myself what it is I do for a living. Instead, I found myself walking into a whirlwind of papers, knick-knacks, files, and pens (oh, so many pens) everywhere. Here’s the good news: everyone’s favorite holiday is finally here. Let’s all take a moment to celebrate #CleanOffYourDeskDay! Here’s how I did it:

1. Does it spark productivity?

Spoiler alert: you don’t need to hold onto every piece of branded swag you collected at conferences last year. (A tough truth I really needed to hear.) It’s time to lovingly thank each fidget spinner and reusable tote bag, then release them back to the wild. If it doesn’t help your work, it doesn’t need to be on your desk.

2. Part ways with the paper

It’s literally 2020. Why do I still have loose paper on my desk? With a little help from Adobe Scan, I quickly captured all my paper documents and put them in the recycling. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. All of that information is now accessible and searchable across my devices, and no longer taking up valuable real estate.

3. Commit to a color palette

For me, focus is all about minimizing distractions. I’ve decided to simplify my color palette to warm neutrals and bright whites to keep my space feeling both homey and energizing. Bright colors tend to catch my eye, so here’s to a 2020 free from shiny object syndrome. Am I overthinking it? Maybe. Am I going to stop overthinking it? Definitely not.

4. Everything in its place

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (and other platitudes I learned from my mother). This year I solemnly swear I will make every reasonable attempt to keep things where they belong. Files that cluttered my desktop will be saved in the right folder from the get-go. Inbox zero may be out of reach, but inbox folders and rules will help with the heavy lifting. Each zone of my desk is accounted for, and will only house the items that belong there. Someone please come find me in a month and ask me if I’ve been keeping this up.

How are you getting into the holiday spirit this Clean Off Your Desk Day? Give us a shout @Acrobat on Twitter!