6 tips for decluttering your workspace.
A neatly organized workspace telegraphs to others that you are serious about your work, whatever it may be. If your workspace is cluttered, it can be distracting and unsettling, decreasing your productivity. When we are less productive, we are less happy. If you can find papers and emails when you need them, you’ll get more done throughout the day.
1. Go paperless
Paper constantly comes into our lives from all directions. Identify where these unwanted documents are coming from, and put a stop to it. Sign up for the do-not-mail list, cancel unwanted catalogs, and start paying bills online. (You are not only getting rid of clutter, you’re also helping save the planet.)
2. Practice Shaucha
Shaucha is a yoga principle that can be applied to everyday life. The philosophy suggests that through a clear and clean environment, we can achieve a higher understanding of ourselves, and the world around us. When our space is clear, our mind is clear. When our mind is clear, we can focus and find time for the things we want to do. We all have goals to achieve, and if you’re constantly dealing with the mundane, you will never have the time to reach your higher aspirations.
3. Scan what you can
Scanning is a great way to store documents, without taking up much space. Find a scanner that’s easy to use, and make a time to scan least once a month. Keep a “to-scan” bin nearby so you have a single location to put items that need scanning.
4. Be mindful
We race through our days, and we very often don’t take the time to simply stop and think about what we are doing. Being mindful and present not only helps you feel less stressed, it can also help you improve your workspace organization. Stop and think before you toss something down on your desk. It takes virtually the same amount of time to file something properly as it does to just throw it on the desk.
5. Set aside time
Make organizing your workspace part of your weekly schedule. That way, things won't pile up over months, making the prospect of clearing it even more daunting.
6. Pay attention to the small things
Make the right decisions about the little things over and over again, and it will pay dividends in the long run with a more productive and organized life.
How do you like to keep your workspace—messy and loose, or neat and tightly organized? And does it increase your sense of wellbeing? Let us know in the comments, below.
