I have worked with so many people over the years that have made me wonder how on earth they can work at their desk when everything that was in their drawers and in their filing cabinets has ended up in piles on top of their keyboard. One co-worker of mine couldn't remember what clour the top of his desk was! J had to say something. but when J did, he told me that he knew where everything was and needed all that paperwork for different projects he was working on.
Some study suggests that about 15% of our time is wasted on looking for misplaced files and paperwork at the office. People gel really defensive when you tell them that their desk is a mess. They say that they don't have time to clean up. as they are too busy. And if they would file certain items they would forger co work on it and would therefore miss the deadline.
Hence. first things first. get yourself some folders and a black marker. Take every piece of paper on your desk one by one and file them. Make sure that everything you need to do with these papers is written down on a "to-do" list or even better in your computer organiser. For example. if you have to work on your budget next Monday, write down "work on budget" in your computer organiser so that when Monday comes, your computer will send you a reminder that you need co work on your budget today. Then file that paper in a folder named "budget". Put that folder away-not on your desk!! But in your filing cabinet. Proceed this way with every bit of information that clutters your desk. Do not get distracted by a form that reminds you that you need to do something. Instead. jot it down on your "to-do" list or in your organiser. You won't forget it as it has been written down. File it and move on. Keep focused. Only do one thing at a time for the moment and that is to organise and clean your desk.
【测试题】
1. By mentioning his co-worker couldn’t remember the color of the desk top, the author implies that_____________.
A) the color of the desk top was too trivial to remember
B) people were always kept too busy with office work
C) people always misplaced their stationery
D) disorganized office was hard to tolerate
2. What did the author most probably say to his co-worker'?
A) The author told him to put away the unnecessary paperwork.
B) The author asked him for the paperwork he was working on.
C) The author advised him to remember where everything was.
D) The author suggested he deal with the projects one by one.
3. Some people regarded the files left on the desk top as _________.
A) functionally a computer B) side products of a project
C) reminders of the work to do D) evidence for their busy work
4. A“budget" folder is used for__________.
A) keeping the "to-do"list
B) recording what has been done
C} registering the company's budget
D) filing the papers useful for future tasks
5. According to the author, the most important thing right now is to ________.
A) sort out the priority of the office work
B) clean the desk by filing the paperwork
C) be concentrated on what is being done
D) stop piling everything on the desk top
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