Staying productive at work can sometimes be difficult. Stress and fatigue can impact. Relationships can impact. And having a messy desk can definitely impact.
Desk management can help keep productivity up. A messy desk can clutter the mind and create confusion. Here’s 5 simple tips to enjoy your desk time and get more done too:
Decorate Your Work Desk
A tidy desk is optimal for productivity, but it doesn’t have to be totally void of character. Putting some personality into your desk can ‘up’ your mood. Research has found that a minimalistic desk design is not necessarily the best approach for productivity. Instead, decorating your desk with things that are important to you and help you remember why you’re working so hard can help you get more done. Things like photos, plants, small toys, figurines, and other knickknacks that remind you of your family, your goals, and what you enjoy can induce productivity. Rather than being distractions, these small items can also be a good way to spark up creativity, and help your brain relax for a bit.
Leave Space for Creative Thought
Quick note taking, brainstorming and visualizing is a good way to map out and plan things. Keeping a pen and paper, or a mini-whiteboard, on your desk lets you capture creative thought when it strikes. And to jot down the immediate priorities that crop up that need to be done.
Add a Dash of Green
Choosing the right color is actually very important when designing the workplace. See, colours can trigger a response in our brain, effectively altering our moods and perspective. Recent research found those working with the colour green in sight became more creative, and more productive. Green computer backgrounds, green notebooks, green accessories, and green plants are all ways you can add colour to your workspace. Living plants give off positive oxygen and tending to them leads to increased drive and a happier temperament.
It’s Okay to be Messy
Though it may appear irreverant to suggest being messy when talking about productivity tips at work, there is some merit to it. The occasional messy and unorganized desk can enable the brain to freestyle and not be shut down by perfectionist tidying. This can be great for problem-solving and creative brainstorming where you want ideas to spark and flow randomly. So just occasionally, when you’re in flow, run with it, and save the tidying for later.
Opt for Natural Lighting
Fluorescent light hinders productivity. Where possible, opt for natural lighting. Open the windows, pull up the blinds, and let the natural sunlight of the sun fill the office. It will energize and help motivate everyone to be productive. And if you don’t have windows, get up from your desk and take a quick stroll outside at lunchtime to catch some rays and top up your Vitamin D.
Take some time to freshen your desk space. Your creativity and temperament will love you for it.
Sharon Kaibel is a performance and productivity coach. Sharon helps business owners create the strategy, structure and systems to build and grow a profitable business. Join her Closed Facebook Group, the #ACHIEVERNETWORK for the community, resources and trainings to become an extraordinary achiever.
