Where Do I Begin to Organize My Home Office?

home office organization

Working from home allows you to be there for your family while working. An estimated 9.8 million Americans worked from home in 2019. Although this is enviable, it comes with its fair share of challenges. Keeping your workspace organized is the biggest one. It became apparent during the current pandemic. The trick is to start small and work your way to the harder tasks. Here are simple hacks on how to organize your office and keep it that way.

How Do I Stop Being Lazy and Clean My Home Office?

The sight of a messy workspace in the morning can drain all the joy and motivation. Although working from home offers more freedom, it also requires more discipline. Most people never notice the coffee mugs and the overflowing paper trays until it too late. Start with simple, achievable tasks. Empty the trash can every morning and return the utensils to the kitchen. You can also clean up while on break instead of watching those YouTube videos. Use that time to arrange those piles of paper into neat stacks. Keep practicing; you will get better at it.

Can a Messy Desk Cause Anxiety?

Clutter is bad for your mental health. It may not be clear straight away, but your environment affects your mood. A messy workspace only makes it worse. The unanswered emails, uncooperative clients, and the deadlines are bad enough. Here is a breakdown of how that clutter causes anxiety.

• The mess distracts you from the task at hand. The excess visual stimuli make it impossible to concentrate.
• All the mess makes it harder to locate something when you need it, adding to the frustration.
• Guilt creeps, especially when a colleague or friend drops in and sees your working space. It further lowers your self-confidence, adding to the stress.
• The ever-present clutter on your workspace subconsciously signals to your brain that there is an incomplete task, making it harder to relax.
• Lastly, having a messy workspace also makes it harder to organize your thoughts, and your creativity may take a hit.

How Do You Make a Desk More Productive?

The layout of your work surface determines your levels of productivity. The first thing you should look for in office furniture is comfort. Sitting for long hours and performing repetitive tasks can take its toll on your body. In extreme cases, it can lead to carpal syndrome. Here are tips for making your work surface more productive.

• Get office furniture that maintains a healthy body posture. The work surface should be high enough that your elbows always maintain a 90 degrees angle when working.
• The top of your monitor should be at eye level to prevent straining your neck.
• Keep the computer screen close enough, about 50 cm from you.
• The mouse and the keyboard should be close enough together to avoid having to stretch.
• Arrange the workflow such that what you are working on is in front of you. The out tray to the right while the in-tray should be to the left. You can switch the last two if you are left-handed. Add a decoration or a photo of a family member or pet always to keep you in high spirits.

How to Make Your Home Office Look Professional?

Unlike the corporate offices, you will have to set up your working area on your own. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune to give your workspace a professional look. Here are a few tips.

• Spacing — Measure out space before getting furniture. The work surface should be big enough but still, leave room for movement and other accessories such as shelves.
• Lighting — Allow as much natural light as possible through the windows. If not possible, the LEDs are the next best thing. Add a study lamp on the table for those late nights.
• The Walls — Consider giving the walls a facelift. Calming colors like yellows and shades of purple are ideal. You can also add some framed photos or your framed copies of your certificates.

Parting Shot

Hopefully, these tips help you keep away the clutter. The longer you wait to get cleaning, the harder it will be to organize. In addition to cleaning, investing in desk accessories can help you stay organized and become more productive. The little things add up.

Originally published at https://www.bluekeyworld.com on June 18, 2020.