For every expert who tells you that keeping a tidy desk is the only way to get stuff done, there’s another who swears that messy = productive. So how can you make sure your workspace is truly productivity-enhancing?
(Photo Credit: iamronna/Flickr)
In short, make it a place where you want to spend time, and in which it’s easy to get stuff done. This will vary from person to person, but there are a few things you can do, no matter what your work style, to make your office more conducive to work:
1. Have a system.
It can be an actual system, or — in the case of messy-desk havers — “a system,” but you should be able to find what you want, when you want it. If you can’t, it’s time to rethink.
2. Make sure it’s a dedicated space.
Nowadays, even people with traditional office jobs often work at home some of the time. This means that many of us have home offices — or should. If you’re going to do any significant amount of work at your home, you need to have a space carved out just for that purpose. That means no working in the kids’ playroom or the closet where you store the skis. It’ll be easier when tax time comes around, too, if you’re able to deduct expenses.
3. Personalize it.
Whether it’s pictures of your family, sports paraphernalia, or plants, add something that reminds you that this space is really yours.
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