If my own business and household paperwork wasn't enough to fill up a desk, somewhere along the line boxes of crackers, dirty dishes, children's toys and books, product samples and a box of unfrozen freezies have squeezed their way onto my desk, leaving me little room to actually work!

If this sounds remotely familiar at all, or if you've forgotten the colour of your desktop because of paperwork or the like, I urge you to take the workspace challenge this week to find it again!

Everything needs a home. By designating a specific spot for your most commonly used items, you are less likely to lose anything important when and if your desk gets invaded again.

Use bulletin boards, shelving, magazine files and file folders to your advantage. Labelling things clearly makes it easy to remember where you've put things and, in case you needed to direct someone else through your personal space, helps to make things findable!

Pens used to disappear on a regular basis off my desk (likely eaten by the paper monster!), until I bought a single shelf spice rack, used some empty babyfood jars for containers and put all my writing utensils into it.

Keeping pens, pencils, stapler and scissors out of the reach of little fingers has saved me a fortune not having to keep buying more pens and a lot of headaches looking frantically for missing ones!

If your desk has become the dumping ground like mine has, it's time to take charge. Make room for yourself and your business first.

Put a box or basket near your desk where you can daily put renegade toys. If childhood snacks need a permanent home somewhere in the office, find them a home too.

Most importantly, remember that this is your work environment.

If you can't find the work you are trying to finish, how will you succeed at your business?

If the atmosphere is one of chaos and confusion, will you truly be able to focus without distraction?

Sort old paperwork and file it away if it's no longer needed.

Put current paperwork into file folders near your desk.