Whether your work space is at home or in an office building, when you declutter your office work space and set up strong routines you clear mental space! For many of us, work has changed dramatically in the past few months.

Not only are more of us working from home, but our homes have become the center of so much more. And our spaces often aren’t the best equipped for our new realities.

Here are a few ways to declutter your office or work space and create positive routines to boost your productivity. With a decluttered work life, you’ll have more time to focus on all the other priorities in your life!

Conventional organizing wisdom

There are plenty of organizational gurus that will tell you simple tips for organizing your space. These lists often start with purging your office of unnecessary supplies, setting up a good organizational system, and ensuring everything has a place.

All of these are great tips — and I encourage you to think about what works for you in these ways.

But here’s what I’m finding is most important

In these days of changing routines, more time at home, and increasing uncertainty over the shape of our lives for who knows how long, it’s important to have a space that you LOVE. For me, this means a space that is cozy, simple, well-organized and happy.

I want to enjoy my work. And what helps me do that are a few simple things that I view as MOST important.

Make your office space and routines work for you

1. Find a space in your home that suits your work — make sure it has good lighting, and room for you to have what you need readily at hand. If space is tight, look for ways to make your home office portable so that you can easily set up and take down your work area.
2. Remove any unnecessary objects that distract you from your work. Myquilyn Smith calls this process “quieting” the room.
3. Have a definitive routine to start and end your day. Our hearts and minds love a good routine and creating a rhythm to begin and finish your day brings calmness.
4. Streamline and “batch process” routine tasks. Several organizational experts recommend setting timers for certain tasks, such as posting to social media or reviewing emails. This increases productivity and helps us focus!
5. Declutter your digital work space. Many of the tips included in the Declutter your digital footprint post also apply to your work life. Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails and ensure you have the applications and software to effectively do your work.
6. Set clear boundaries. When you’re working from home, it’s easy to be distracted by — well, everything! Our people seem louder than usual, household chores beckon, and maybe just a little snack would be good. Use a “do not disturb” sign and hold yourself accountable for your work time.

Declutter your office work space and gain control

We have so much going on in this middle adulthood period of life — and gaining control of each portion brings calmness, perspective, and a better sense of priority. Next week, we’ll cover another important aspect of our lives: relationships.

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