Hiya.

I've an 'issue' with clutter. I hate filing! It seems counter-productive to doing real work. I know I am not as efficient when surrounded by clutter, but I like the fact that everything is out there in the open. I think I can blame this on my Mother, who hung a sign in our kitchen when we were young that said "A clean house is the sign of a boring woman". <grin> There is something to that. Don't you think?

My boss recently left me a note on my chair saying "Mike, clean up your work space... It's embarrassing."

<sigh>

Guess I have to do something about it. But, it seems like a waste of time, and I can never keep it looking clean.

Any suggestions for how I should deal with deficiency of mine?

-Michael

I recently 'came out' about my clutter problem--not that it wasn't obvious to anyone who passed my desk. We just had our annual Personal Development Agenda meetings--where we sit down and prepare a list of all the things we want to accomplish at work this year. I put "organize files (and learn to use the computer)" right near the top of my most important personal development goals. In other words, I told my company that this was a big issue for me--and not just an annoying personal habit (that I could fix if I wanted to) that was hurting my work. I didn't mention ADD, by the way.

My boss agreed to have someone in my section spend a week with me and teach me how to file things and set up a filing system! If this person can't do it, he said we could hire a temp to help me.

I feel really lucky and grateful that my company takes me and this issue seriously. I don't suggest going in and telling your boss that you have ADD, but maybe present the clutter issue as a legitimate problem that you are eager to deal with, and tell your boss that you want to avail yourself of any help the company can provide. If your boss is less than helpful, what about checking out workspaces of people who do seem to have it all together, and getting help/suggestions from them?

Clutter bothers me to no end. I grew up with everything in its place. When I was in school a yr ago my apt had to be in order in order for me to sit down and do my homework. If It wasnt I had to clean before I could do my homework.

I know the feeling I seem to try to be a little better but have seem to gone to not care lately and that is not good either. Sorry I am rabbling. auntchris

Hiya.

I've an 'issue' with clutter. I hate filing! It seems counter-productive to doing real work. I know I am not as efficient when surrounded by clutter, but I like the fact that everything is out there in the open. I think I can blame this on my Mother, who hung a sign in our kitchen when we were young that said "A clean house is the sign of a boring woman". <grin> There is something to that. Don't you think?

My boss recently left me a note on my chair saying "Mike, clean up your work space... It's embarrassing."

<sigh>

Guess I have to do something about it. But, it seems like a waste of time, and I can never keep it looking clean.

Any suggestions for how I should deal with deficiency of mine?

-Michael

I am in the same situation. My desk looks like heck..pardon my French. I try to keep paperless as much as possible.

Filing is something we are already supposed to be able to do... Didn't you know we were supposed to learn that prior to leaving school? ha... sure.

I find that I can get a lot done if I am NOT at my cluttered work station, but I also find that I can get to all of the things I need quickly while at my workstation. The boss won't allow me to file in a file cabinet or bankers box (which is QUICK for me) and foces me to file in 20-30 3-ring binders, which is a multiple step process (find the right binder (they are all the same color blue... my boss thinks that looks cool) and than open it up, and than find the right spot in the binder, and than "oh look... this one is crowded and I need to get another binder and re-sort all of the papers" and oh by the way I don't have enough room at my workstation for all of that crap!

<sigh>

I know what I am supposed to do and how to solve it, but I just have absolutely no interest in doing it. I mean, I really DO know how to resolve the problem, but I just don't care. Maybe this is part of an opositional-difiance disorder?

Maybe it will all be cleaned up when I arrive at work tomorrow? If so, it will probably all be in a box by the front door waiting for me! <grin>