Fall is officially upon us. While we usually hear the term “spring cleaning,” we think fall cleaning is just as important. Try these tips to get your work space tidy and ready to take on the fall and winter seasons.

1. Clean and organize your work space

We’re approaching that time of year where the germs fly free. Take 10 minutes to take everything off your desk and clean it. Find a microfiber cloth to dust your computer and disinfect your keyboard, mouse and desk surface. After you give it a good wipe down, take some time to sort and organize what’s been taking over. Go through your files and choose what can stay and what needs to go. Find a home for those charging cords, stacks of papers, business cards, etc.! Having an organized desk will make your workday feel less stressful. Plus you’ll know where everything is when you need it.

2. Update your passwords

This sounds like a menial task, but it’s important to make sure your accounts are secure. Keeping your passwords updated helps keep your accounts safe. Hackers are real!

3. New stylebook

I’m not going to lie, the AP Stylebook I have on my desk is the 2011 version. Fall is a good time to look at the publications you reference and update to current versions.

4. Clean up your inbox

You know that amazing feeling when there isn’t a number in parenthesis next to the “inbox” folder.  It’s probably been a while, hasn’t it? Set aside some time to go through all those unread emails you’ve been ignoring. Delete what you don’t need, sort through the messages cluttering your inbox into folders to get your email organized.

5.Set up coffee with a media contact

Do you have a reporter or producer you work with often? Maybe a friend that works at a local news outlet? Ask them to coffee (it is, after all, the lifeblood of our industries). Fall is the perfect time to reconnect with your media contacts. Besides building on a professional relationship, this is an opportunity to update them on projects you’re working on and vice versa.

6. Refill your wallet or purse with business cards

You’ve spent all summer socializing, networking and passing out those business cards. Now is the time restock your wallet or purse, especially if you’ve seen a promotion since the last time you loaded up.

7. Refresh your LinkedIn profile

Set aside some time to clean up your LinkedIn profile. Update your experiences with your current work. Don’t forget to swap out your photo for a fresh head shot too! It’s important to keep your LinkedIn current so your connections know what you’re up to.

8. Check in on your PR reading list

The cooler evenings make the perfect excuse to cuddle up on the couch with a good book. This is a good time to check in on that reading list you’ve been putting off and pick a book off the shelf. Sharpen those public relations skills!

9. Review and refresh boiler-plates

Take a look at how far your client’s organization has come since the last time the boilerplate was updated. Fall is a good time to refresh client boiler-plates to make sure any changes are now represented in future releases.

10. Brush up on your skills

Check out the calendars of professional networks in your area. Sign up for an upcoming networking event!  If you’re a PRSA member, you can even attend monthly webinars for free.

Sasha Reeves is an assistant account executive at Franco and will likely show up at your desk with hand sanitizer if she hears you sneeze in the office. You can reach her at (313) 567-5090 or [email protected] or connect with her on LinkedIn.