STA Blog

As a journalist, I am bombarded with unsolicited mail; the various email inboxes I have are a complete disaster with anything up to 10,000 missives requiring attention.  Much as I’d like to, deleting the lot is not an option.  Sometimes they are interesting, look useful, or might come in handy for a rainy day.  Sent late last year by Productivity Partners Inc., written by Cynthia Kyriazis, ’50 Tips for arranging Your Office Space’ I thought worth sharing.

I’m not going to list all 50, just pick out (‘curate’ in today’s jargon) some that I thought would be useful to the many technical analysts who work from home or have a desk at which they study the charts.  First, she urges us to consider how we manage paper, space, and time.  From how many filing drawers we need, lighting and electrical sockets, to working efficiently thus gaining peace of mind.  This last one I enforce rigorously.

She suggests carefully measuring available space, preferably with natural light, and then maximising this by using modular, adaptable furniture with as much horizontal surface area as possible.  Take care with ergonomics and read or consult a professional if you’re unsure as incorrect use can have serious consequences.  Consider a ‘stand-up’ desk and a rubber mat to protect the floor or carpet.

Aesthetics matter because ‘if it looks nice, it probably feels good making your workspace more pleasant’.  I tend to be a minimalist in terms of clutter, but here tastes vary, keeping in mind that desktops should be used for current activity only.  Paper should be separated into incoming, action (used several times a week), and project (less frequent use).  Likewise filing is best categorised as current, reference, and archival – the latter could be stored in another room.

Keep stationary and other supplies in one place only to make re-ordering easy, preferably in a closed cupboard.  Have a waste-paper bin nearby and make sure to use it!  Which brings me back to my inbox.  Best I settle down and start clearing space there instead of ignoring the problem.

Pictures to inspire you in this link:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk