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Ever wish someone with superhuman powers would make the clutter disappear from your life? Is this your chief lament: "I have absolutely no space at my desk to work, except a tiny square in front of my phone. And whenever I need something, I have to search through all the stacks and stacks of paper." With piles on every available surface, including the floor, you can feel completely overwhelmed.

Here are some ways to get your working area in working condition!

• Step one    clear space! Go through all the papers. For each sheet, ask, "Does it need to be kept for legal reasons? Is it applicable to my job?"

• Go through the books next. Divide them into "keep" and "give away." Can you see the desktop now?

• Everything needs a home. Knowing where an item exists makes it faster both to put away and find again later. The four dwellings necessary for perfect paper processing? An in-box, an out-box, a filing system and    most important    a recycling bin! Baskets, decorative boxes and tins are perfect containers for home paperwork.

• Reserve your in-box for unread mails only. Muttering "I know what to do with this" but then stuffing it back in the box means you`ll have to sort a second time.

• File, don`t pile. Stacks left out don`t remind you of what needs to be done: they distract you from what you`re doing at the moment. Conquer chaos by writing tasks on a list and putting paper away until you need it.

• Convenience is king. Whether it`s a file folder or a sugar bowl, if you use it daily, it should be within arm`s reach.

• In your life lacking an out-box? It`s a sign you feel responsible for all decisions. Designate a place for items you can delegate to another person or about which you can confer with another person.

• Guard your newfound space fervently. Now that you cleared things up, you need to work at keeping it that way.