Spring cleaning – most people think of it as a household chore. Do you envision it as hours spent cleaning out closets, washing walls, cleaning the garage and other gigantic time-consuming chores? Most people don’t even consider their personal workspace when it comes time for “out with the old and in with the new” or simple spring cleaning in general. Just like your home, your office can also use a spring time rejuvenation to set the spirit for the lovely weather ahead.

Start from the inside out.

It’s time to clear out those files – messiness not necessarily required. If you have documents over five to ten years old, it’s time to purge. The absolutely necessary files stay in the drawer. The remaining files can be purged or scanned into an electronic file for safe keeping, if a document trail is needed. Consider electronically filing anything that has not been touched in over twelve months.

Make it awesome – get rid of those old, raggedy file folders and use new ones. If possible, invest in different colors to give your desk drawer a new fresh look. Prepare new folder labels and you magically have a brand new look. Be sure to only work on one drawer at a time. Systematically work through each drawer, just in case the project gets interrupted.

The surface is your canvass.

Once you’ve tackled the inside, move to the fun, visible desk top. Have your frames been on your desk so long they’ve collected a layer of dust? Is the table underneath your knick-knacks still bright while the surrounding area is faded? Visit an inexpensive store or thrift shop to pick up some fun, funky frames. Change your knick-knacks and give your desk a whole new look. Do you always keep your pencil holder in that exact spot? Shake things up and move it to a new location.

Before you replace your knick-knacks, take a few minutes to swab down the top of your desk with a disinfecting cleaner. Banish the winter cold and flu germs so you can begin the spring season free of pesky flu causing colds.

It’s not always necessary to complete your spring cleaning all at once. Break down the task into bite –sized chunks that are easily manageable, but not overwhelming. Remember, spring cleaning is not just a household chore.

NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter of updates to the Career Training site by filling in the blank below the article with your email address - which is never passed on beyond this site