The Wild Thing Under Your Desk
There's something wild that lives under your desk. It has no fur, won't bother you while you sleep, and fortunately it doesn't bite. This wild thing is not cuddly and if you're like many of my clients, it probably drives you bonkers.
It's your wild thing of wires.
The average desk is home to at least one computer, set of speakers, printer, external hard drive, modem, router and lamp. Nearby is likely to be a shredder and at least one surge protector. Factor in all of the chargers and that's a
lot of wires!
We must tame these wires before they totally take over our space…and cause a fire hazard.
Our first instinct is to zip tie them together or even purchase a cable zipper or tube to hide the big mess. This is a great way to establish order with your wires although if something needs to be removed, the entire system will have to be reconfigured.
First, each new cord entering your space should be labeled. If you don't have a label maker I would recommend you get one. In a pinch, you can use masking tape but it doesn't look very nice. Wrap your label around the wire near the plug end. Placing it near the plug helps in identification when it really matters, when you are kneeling over the surge protector trying to determine which one you need. This further prevents the necessity of the "yank test", pulling on the cord to determine to which device it belongs. This practice could actually cause loss of data or damage to equipment.
I would also recommend labeling wires that actually sit on your desktop, especially the ones that aren't always connected to their device, like phone chargers. This would mean that some wires are labeled twice but that's ok. Better safe than sorry.
Labeling also helps with wire nabbers. iPhone cords are a hot commodity at our house and when yours is labeled, you know where it went and who is responsible!
The last step is super easy. Use twist ties to wrangle the cords together. Twist ties or a resealable Velcro strip are ideal because they can be undone and redone as needed.
As a preventive maintenance, regularly check wires and cords for wear. When they begin to show the actual wires inside the insulation, replace them promptly.
Have a NEAT day!
Jennifer Snyder
Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts
www.neatasapin.net
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About the Author
My
name is Jennifer Snyder CPO, Chief Executive Organizer of Neat as a Pin
Organizing Experts, a Waco-based company of Professional Organizers
that is not only focused on organizing the clutter in your home or
office but also clutter of the heart and mind.
I
am happy that you are taking an interest in the benefits of getting
your home and life organized. Living an organized life is for everyone!
