7 TIPS TO A SAFER AND MORE ORGANIZED WORKSPACE

You can’t be at your best in a mess. Neither can your computer.
Mounting clutter, protruding wires and other workspace chaos can put stress on PCs and cause unfortunate accidents. Computers perform better and are more stable in clean, organized desk environments.
Wondering if your work area is safe for your computer? Read on for how to best organize your workspace so that your PC can work at peak performance.

1. Organize wires

Exposed and tangled wires are a desk hazard because they can fray and cause electrical shortages or even become a fire hazard. There are several products on the market for cord organization including cable boxes and bins and cable clips. Try one of these low-cost solutions to organize wires:

• Use a cable organizer that attaches to your desk to control loose wires and keep them off the floor.
• Reduce the number of wires on your desk. You can do this by using wireless and Bluetooth keyboards, mice and speakers. Learn how to pair Bluetooth devices here.
• Use a laptop dock (for ThinkPad systems) to keep cords such as adapters and port cables in one location behind your desk. You can then gather and stabilize the cords further with wraps or ties. 
• If you bundle wires, make sure to leave some slack – pulling and wrapping them too tightly might cause interference with some connections. It will also make it difficult to move items around your desk if you decide to change décor.

2. Use surge protectors

Electrical surges, like those that can occur in bad weather or from overloaded circuits, can do serious damage to your computer. Standard wall outlets and extension cords don’t offer enough protection from these spikes in voltage. A power strip with a surge protector can absorb volt surges, diverting the energy away from your computer.
Surge protectors offer more outlets to allow plugging multiple devices into one location, but can sometimes get in the way. To keep from kicking it on the floor, you can mount it on the wall or desk. Here are other tips for safely using power strips:

• Carefully disconnect cords from power outlets before organizing them.
• Try to wrap power cords separately from wires.
• For devices with short cords, skip the extension cord and use a surge protector with a longer cord or one that mounts into a wall outlet.

3. Beat the heat

Heat buildup can seriously affect the performance of your computer. The best workspace includes a desk with a flat, dry surface located in a room with proper ventilation. Propping a desktop’s central processing unit (CPU) or a laptop on a stand will allow airflow through the system. You can also help avoid an overheated PC by taking these preventative steps:

• If you have a desktop system, avoid stacking items on top or in front of the CPU.
• Enable power saving settings.
• Turn off you system when not in use.
• Dust the machine regularly with a soft, microfiber cloth.

4. Choose the right location

Rooms that are too bright or which have glaring light expose computers to heat and damaging rays.

5. Eat and drink away from your desk

Food and liquids can spill and get trapped inside computers. If this has happened to you, make sure to read this article.

6. Clean regularly 

Protect your workspace from dust, germs and other pollutants. Use cleaning products made specifically for electronics and furniture. Read more on how to clean your PC in this article.

7. Remove unnecessary clutter 

Reserve your workspace for small items (staplers, notepads, pens) you use daily. Store other items off the desk but close by on a stand or in a drawer.