Photo Credit: Patricia Winesickle
A few months ago, I wrote about setting up a customized workstation for your kids as they think about going back to school. I mentioned giving them some ownership of the project, adding their personality to the space, and making it functional so they can succeed.
But what about the rest of us? Couldn’t we all use a functional and inspiring workspace as we manage the bills, work, and creative projects at home?
It’s getting towards the end of the year, and you might feel like you’ve hit a bit of a slump with your work. In this article, I’ll explain how to do a career reset without switching your job, simply by revamping your home office.
At the end of the day, organizing is about taking care of yourself. It’s about making your life feel easier, more fulfilling, and more fun. Aren’t these all qualities that we could use a little more of in our jobs?
Reflect on how you’ve been feeling at work and brainstorm ideas for how to organize your home office by using this free printable worksheet I’ve made to go along with this post. Click here to enter the email address you’d prefer it to be sent to.
What’s Missing in Your Career?
A workspace that truly serves us can set the tone for the entire house and even bring us back to life as far as responsibilities are concerned.
One of the main reasons people start to feel demotivated in their careers is when they feel like the work they are doing doesn’t offer any real value. The opposite might also be true: perhaps you feel like your work has value, but you are neglecting (AKA, devaluing) yourself in the process of working.
If this resonates with you, remember: you are the only person in the world who can offer your unique gifts to the rest of us. Organizing your personal and/or professional workspace is a great way to jumpstart your impact.
If you feel at times that your work lacks meaning, decluttering your home office can give you the opportunity to find what truly matters to you. You can then cultivate those values in your day-to-day work.
If you feel like you put your job before yourself, organizing will help make your tasks more streamlined, so you can focus on efficiency and enjoyment.
Whether you work in or outside of the home, an organized and functional workspace is the foundation for inspiration and creativity, and we all know the world could use more of both! You deserve an office that serves you because the world deserves your creativity and follow-through.
Things To Do Before You Refresh Your Home Office
Having some control over what comes into your home is imperative to creating not just a functional workspace, but an inspiring one. I’ll give you some ideas about how to organize it, but first you’ve got to know how you work best. Here are some questions to consider.
Do you like a lot of light?
Do you work better in an open space or one with more privacy?
Do you have a minimalist mindset, or do you need a more eclectic personality for your space?
The best way to answer these questions is by testing out a few spots and noticing how you feel and what you get done while you’re there. What attributes do these spaces have? What works for you? What doesn’t?
Keep Your Job, Get Rid of the Clutter
Set Up a Filing System
Papers. Decision fatigue is a real thing, so creating a hub for paperwork is essential when it comes to feeling in control of your responsibilities.
I would suggest putting a small file cabinet near your desk because having a place for each paper that comes into your home will set you up for success. One of those designated areas can be a trash can or shredder. Another can be a drawer or basket for things that need to be filed.
I’ve found hanging folders labeled alphabetically with tabs to the left works the best for me in my own file cabinet. To set up your filing system, visit the IRS’s website to see what papers you need to keep and for how long.
How to Stay Focused While You Work
Once everything has a place, you can decide how you work best at your desk.
I like to have lots of free space on mine, so you’ll only see the things I use every day on it: a lamp, my to-do file folder, pens, and post-its. I like having at least one drawer in my desk for all the things I use weekly and aren’t as pretty, like my budget book, stapler, white out, receipts, paperclips, etc. Keeping my large desktop clutter free helps me spread out when I’m working and looks clean and simple when I finish.
Personalize Your Space
Adding light, color, and texture to a workspace is one of my favorite parts of the process because it pulls everything together and makes it come to life.
I like working by a well-lit window with open blinds or a sheer curtain, but I also have a nice lamp for when it’s overcast. Adding at least one plant to your office space can bring life to the room because it provides energy and texture.
Finally, I suggest picking a piece of art that sparks your creativity and pulls out the feelings that help you work best. Reds and oranges tend to motivate, while cool colors like blue and green can calm.
Organize Your Home Office; Reset Your Career
A functional and inspirational workspace is key to creative energy and successful input and output. I hope these tips can help you if you’re struggling to stay motivated or energized by your work.
Try them out and let me know if changing your space helped change your mind, too! If you’ve followed along with the free printable home office organization worksheet, let me know how it helped! (Click here to get it sent to your preferred email address).
Remember, the world needs what you have to offer, so visit my website at www.MoreSpaceOrganizing.com if you’re interested in getting help to transform your workspace in Lancaster, PA or beyond. I provide an empathetic approach to decluttering, so it’s not one more thing for you to stress about.
Follow me on social media to get regular tips and tricks that you can try out on your own! You can find me on Instagram @morespace_organizing or on Facebook @MoreSpaceOrganizing.
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