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“When you clear your clutter, you have more space. When you have more space, you have greater clarity. When you have greater clarity, you get more done in less time. When you get more done in less time, you have more freedom.”
Right now, the majority of us find ourselves working from a home office. Whether we are digital wizards who have always worked from home or are just now dipping into this unregulated work environment, we are all together in navigating our way to a new way of doing business and a new landscape.
Some of us are probably doing well and others well, not so much . . . The most common reason some of us do not thrive in our work from home environment is that it is a cluttered, distracting workspace.
Clutter is always a distraction and creates a huge impact, especially when working from home.
I think the reason that some people are doing well as remote workers is that they had systems in place prior to this pandemic to support their work efforts.
While working from home sounds like a luxury, in theory, it’s certainly no vacation, and being productive is easier said than done. Every job requires different skills and the amount of success you’re able to achieve working from a home office will vary between career types, internal policies, and employers.
There are a few key tactics you can use while working from home. Tactics you can implement to help finish your tasks in an efficient way. When you are efficient, you are better able to maintain your sanity and stay healthy at the same time. You might even be able to avoid the EXTRA15, now fondly known as the middle belt spread!
Speaking of workspaces, if you have to get up a proper work zone, it is time to create your own unique and separate workspace. Working from a consistent room, desk, or chair, tells your brain that it’s time for work, not relaxation.
Try setting up a desk with a supportive chair that is comfortable, a desk with a lot of surface area, and consistent places to store your tools. Make sure to personalize your space with 1-2 items that make you smile, since you’ll be spending a lot of time
there.
There are several steps you can take to make your home work environment more effective. As a Pro Organizer, I always start with the low hanging fruit and that fruit is inevitably cluttered, so let’s start here.
Getting rid of the clutter in your workspace will help you become more productive because you will have less visual and tactile distractions.
Keep this idea in mind and it will help you determine what to eliminate as you begin clearing: Clutter = anything in your work zone is anything that is not needed to
perform your job.
If you are looking at a desk with a bunch of unrelated objects, beard trimmers, lip balm, sewing needles, kids projects, hair ties, or other accessories, it is time to get
them out of your work zone and take them back to where they belong. Their home is NOT your workspace.
Like I mentioned before it is ok to have 1-2 items on your desktop that make you smile, visual eye candy so to speak, but keep them to 1-2 items only!
There will always be unrelated items showing up in your workspace. The easiest way to keep them moving off and out of your work area is to create an exit zone for these items to move into when you find them. For some, it might be the edge of your file cabinet so you can grab them when you leave. The tactic I use is to literally toss them onto the floor heading towards the door of my office. This way when I get up to move into another area of my home, I swoop them up and take them away from my office.
After you have carved out your designated work area, it is time to talk about your time. Without consistent times to head out the door for meetings and office visits, it is
super easy to become a workaholic and work all hours of the night and day.
Stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Designate a time where you’re going to go to bed and you’re going to wake up each and every day. This will help you stay on track
and will give your body a consistent sleep schedule. The upside of this is when, and if, you do go back into the office it will be easier to adjust to your new work hours.
Another way to go full steam ahead each day is to get ready each morning and put on your street clothes. I know it is so easy to stay on your jammy pants but getting dressed like you are leaving your house is a great way to normalize your new routine of working from home.
If you have a hard time motivating yourself to get ready in the morning, try laying out your outfit the night before, or planning an outing during the day so that you will have to get dressed.
Make a time blocked schedule. In other words, schedule your day around your own natural cycles. Know your body ebbs and flows and plan your tasks according to
your energy flow.
If you are like me and not a morning person, save complicated tasks for later in the morning when you are more energized and alert.
Know your body ebbs and flows and plan your tasks according to your energy flow.
I am not saying to wait all morning before you begin working. In fact, diving into your to do list and planning what you will get done that day before you check your emails will jetspult you into a productive work mode. Become aware of the thoughtless busyness habits you might have developed and try to eliminate you sloppy patterns.
Book your most difficult tasks when your brain is fully ignited. Do your hardest tasks when you have the most energy and give yourself rewards and breaks throughout the day.
If you are able to begin a large project first thing, you will create some momentum and will be able to finish it by the end of the day. Studies show that when you tackle a few large tasks at the top of the day, your momentum will be accelerated for the rest of the day.
Even if you have taken on more than you can possibly accomplish in one day, you will still be able to see results of some of your projects either moving towards completion
or done!
Take breaks. Speaking of breaks, make sure you get the most out of your planned work breaks. Step away from your workspace and get some fresh air, grab a healthy snack, and talk with another human being. When you break for lunch – literally break for lunch – and eat it somewhere other than sitting at your desk.
You might even want to set up a zoom challenge were you meet somewhere outside of your workspace with a friend or colleague to eat lunch together. Set a prize for whoever goes to the most inspiring location – by the pool, to a park or simply chair on the front lawn. Getting outside in fresh air always boosts your morale and makes you more clear headed when you return to work.
Setting an end time for your workday is also important. Ending your day at a pre-established time is important to help you know that you’re not working longer than you should and to ensure that you are still maintaining a healthy work-life balance. You can do this, and encouraging your remote coworkers to do the same will help everyone’s productivity.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting more done in a less structured setting can be difficult, even when there isn’t a major disruption to our life. I hope these tips are helpful and that you’re able to use this new ‘working from home’ paradigm to increase your own self-discipline and up your skillset so that you can get more done in less time!
If you need help and want a step by step guide to get your workspace completely organized and move into much higher levels of productivity, go ahead grab your FREE
copy of Kathi’s Organized and Energized, 6 steps To Organize & Create Your Amazing
Home Office. Free using this link.
Kathi Burns helps her clients lead a fulfilled and organized life that combines both balance and freedom. She has published two books and her advice has been featured in multiple national media outlets including Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes and Gardens, Entrepreneur Magazine and more.
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