So it’s January 3 and most of the haze from New Year’s Eve should have worn off by now (if it hasn’t, you may be partying too much). In the next day or two, many writers will get back to their desks, shake their heads wearily and ask themselves how they should prepare for the upcoming year, writing-wise. This week, The Happy Freelancer will focus on things writers can do in January to make the upcoming year not only easier but, I hope, more profitable. Today’s post focusses on erasing the mess that has probably accumulated over the past year (or ten) in your workspace.
Having a clean, tidy workspace might not seem like a big deal. It didn’t used to mean much to me. But I can tell you that having worked in clutter and having worked in tidy, my brain much prefers working in a tidy area. The first bonus is that a tidy area makes it easier to find files and information quickly, so less of your writing hours are spent looking for a file that you know you saw a few weeks ago but can’t quite locate now. The second bonus–one that I wholeheartedly believe–is that a tidy desk helps to keep your mind uncluttered.
So, do yourself a favour, pick a weekend and get your workspace clean and tidy–whether that workspace is a desk, a table or an entire office. Throw out old files that you haven’t looked at in years. Archive files that you think have potential but aren’t yet sure what to do with. Dust off your shredder and get rid of any papers with confidential information that you no longer need. Set up a system in your office so that no matter what you need, you can find it in moments.
Be really, deeply honest with yourself about which papers you need and which you don’t. Get rid of the page-a-day calendar that you stopped using back in March. Find a system for organizing all your papers, books and files. Throw out those pens that have dried up but you haven’t bothered getting rid of yet (you know who you are). Receipts that still have a 19 at the front of the year can be shredded now.
Going through your files in January is a great way not only to get rid of excess paperwork, but also to examine ideas you’ve had in the past that you haven’t done anything with. Did you find notes on an idea for an article that was never written? Ask yourself why you didn’t write that query. The answer might tell you a lot about who you are as a writer. Is there a chance to revisit that idea now? Feel free to keep the file, but only if you promise yourself you’ll follow up on it, rather than throwing it in a filing cabinet to be lost until the same time next year.
Did you keep rejection letters from editors or publishers? Why did you keep them? Was it only so you could see them again and feel terrible about yourself as a writer or were you hoping to learn something from them? If you were hoping to learn something from them, did you learn something and apply that new knowledge? Do you need to keep those rejection letters or are they just depressing you? Would it be so terrible to shred them?
Going through your files also gives you the opportunity to get all your receipts and invoices organized for tax time. So take this opportunity to get your tax files together. You’ll need them for the next few days, when you take a good long look at your business and the upcoming year.
Don’t expect to have your workspace totally clutter-free in a couple of hours (although if you can do that, great). Instead, set aside a chunk of time over a few days to really go through your paperwork and ask yourself hard questions about the files you’ve accumulated and what they mean. Is there really a potential story in there that you promise you’ll follow-up on, or are you just keeping the file to make yourself feel better that you have some ideas? If you’re just keeping the file for the sake of keeping it, maybe it’s best to get rid of it and make more room on your desk (and in your brain) for newer, better ideas.
And, if you can’t stand the thought of getting rid of a file because you might just need it at some point this year but you’re not sure when or how and you just can’t part with it yet, then I suggest setting up an archival system in your office and putting a notation on the file (a pretty sticker, perhaps). That way, when next year rolls around and you still haven’t done anything with the files with stickers on them, you’ll know for sure it’s time to get rid of them.
Then, sit back and enjoy how clean and clear your workspace looks.
Tomorrow’s post: cleaning up that other desktop. Oh the fun we’ll have.
