I sit on the floor of my corner office rifling frantically through the last file folder in front of me. To my right, sheets of paper are scattered everywhere. To my left, empty desk drawers hang open, their remnants now dumped all over the floor. “Aha!” I say, snatching up the client document that I just spent the last 20 minutes searching for.

This Monday morning is off to a great start. I let out a deep sigh and take a look around. My office is a complete disaster – clearly due for some spring-cleaning. I pick up the itchy, red and white scarf and matching mittens I received as a Secret Santa gift at the holiday office party four months ago, and toss them in the garbage. What better time than now?

Suddenly, there’s a knock at my door. I look up from the tsunami of office supplies to see Andy poking his head in the doorway. “What’s going on in here, boss?” He asks with a quizzical look on his face.

“Just reorganizing,” I reply, as I hurriedly begin stacking the sheets of paper into neat piles.

Andy steps carefully around the miscellaneous office products strewn across the floor.

Where am I going to put all of this stuff? I wonder to myself.

“Well, isn’t this just perfect timing then?” Andy interrupts my train of thought as he flashes a colourful piece of paper in front of my face.

“You could probably use some of these Recycled Storage Boxes from the April Office Plus flyer,” he says. “They’re made with 100% post-consumer content.”

I reluctantly look to where he is pointing. I really don’t need the distraction right now.

“Did I hear you say Recycled Storage Boxes?” A voice calls out from the hallway. The new intern, Marsha, rushes in through my doorway, nearly tripping over an empty coffee cup. She looks curiously over Andy’s shoulder.

“Wait, is that an O-Ring Recycled Binder I see?” She asks, eyeing the flyer.

Andy nods enthusiastically. “There are all kinds of eco-smart office supplies in here,” he says.

“This is perfect for our new Green Initiative,” Marsha looks up at me with excitement. She has been brainstorming ways to reduce our carbon footprint since the day she started the job – only three weeks ago. “Look at these Eco-Friendly White Filing Labels, boxes of Flexgrip Ultra Recycled Retractable Pens and – what’s that? Recycled Paper Clips!”

I can’t help but smile. Their efforts really are inspiring. And with Earth Day just around the corner, we should all be focused on doing our part. I’ve just been so unorganized lately that I completely forgot about the initiative.

“Great ideas,” I tell them, picking up an empty paper clip box and casually tossing it in the garbage. “Let’s place an order.”

Marsha rushes over to the garbage can and pulls out the box. “We can recycle this,” she mumbles softly.

Andy’s eyes follow her. “Wait a minute – is that the scarf I got you for the office’s Secret Santa?” He asks, pointing at the itchy pile of red and white yarn.

My cheeks turn a rosy pink. “Oops, how did those get in there?” I quickly pull out the scarf and mittens and set them on my desk. “I guess I better get back to work!” I say, shuffling the two of them towards the door.

Here we go again, Monday.