Stay productive by keeping your workspace clutter-free
- Brianne Smith
- Feb 24, 2018
- 3 min read
I've always been the kind of person who gets stressed when surrounded by mess. Though I'm by no means the "tidiest" girl around, I do like to keep my room and workspaces as clutter-free as possible (easier said than done). I fully believe in the mentality, 'clear-space, clear-mind,' and have been trying harder to find a couple minutes each day to tidy up my personal spaces. Since I've been doing this, I've noticed a significant change in my productivity levels, and find myself with fewer distractions.
My tips:
1. Purge
Time to finally go through all those binders, notebooks and miscellaneous papers and get RID of them. If you have access to a paper shredder, this is all the more satisfying. Test all your pens/markers and get rid of the ones that no longer work. Still have your birthday cards from 5 months ago sitting on your desk? Purge, or put them away for safe-keeping if you're the sentimental type like me.
2. Make sure your desk has access to natural light.
And LOTS of it. I'm not making this up, there are literally studies that prove access to natural light stimulates your brain and ups your productivity levels (and happiness levels, more importantly). It doesn't hurt to add a lamp to your desk so you're not straining your eyes at night.
3. Keep everything you need within reach.
Before you sit down and get to work, make a plan of what you'll need to be productive. I like to make sure I have some sort of snack nearby and a cup of freshly steeped green tea. Make sure your chargers, notepads, pens, phone, lip chap, and anything else you might need are within reach while sitting at your desk. This will help you keep a clear mind and distractions at bay.
4. Storage, storage, storage.
I'm a huge storage person, almost to the point of obsession. I have little bins to keep everything organized from electronic chargers, to different nail polish colours. Investing in some small storage units for around your desk area will help keep your workspace clear of clutter, and looking stylish. They can also be a good way to bring in cool colours/patterns to your room, while still keeping things looking professional and tidy.
5. Decorate your space for you.
For me, I spend a lot of time at my desk, whether blogging, freelancing or Facetiming. Because I spend so much time there, I wanted to make it pleasing to my eye. I'm a major plant lover, so I've decorated my desk with a few little succulents and am currently trying to grow lavender (another good reason to have access to natural sunlight). I've also decorated with little polaroids of friends and family, wire string lights, a placemat and a diffuser. Also, I can't do without my bulletin board. It's good to have for those important pieces of paper or business cards you need to keep safe.
*side note*: for anyone who doesn't already own a diffuser, I highly recommend buying one. They range in price, but you can find decent ones for really cheap on Amazon. Mine has literally changed my life, you can get scents for all kinds of purposes from aiding with studying, to helping fall asleep. You will not regret buying one.
*side note #2*: There's this book my sister recommended to me called "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." It's supposed to be amazing for helping with keeping your home decluttered by focussing in on little rooms/spaces at a time (hint hint: your desk would be a perfect place to start!). You can buy the hard-copy version, or download it on Audible. If anyone gets to listening to, or reading this before me, let me know what you think in the comments!
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