Three Ways to Improve Your Workspace And Increase Productivity
Quick, what do you think of when you hear about improving your productivity?
If youre like most folks, the first things that spring to mind likely include productivity-boosting activities like prioritizing your tasks, making to-do lists, careful planning and so on.
These are all important, yes. But heres one that some people overlook: Creating an environment thats conducive to high productivity. Heres how to create your own productive workspace:
* Create a cone of silence. If youre having to stop continuously to answer the phone, answer the door, answer email and answer your childs questions, you wont get anything done. Thats why you need to clear out the distractions and create a cone of silence in your workspace.
If youre working from home and you others living in the house, its probably next to impossible to have an entirely distraction-free day. Instead, set up specific hours where family members and friends cant interrupt you. Tell them its no different than if you worked away from home at an office.
* Clear the clutter. One persons idea of clean is another persons idea of chaotic clutter. And thats ok. The idea here isnt to create a workspace that meets someone elses idea of clutter-free. Instead, you should strive to create a workspace thats organized in such a way that you can find things fast.
If that means you use shoe boxes stacked five feet high in lieu of a file cabinet, so be it. As long as you can quickly get to the papers you need when you need them and as long as youre comfortable with the LOOK of your workspace then thats all that matters.
>>> Bottom line: Create your workspace for you, not to impress someone else. <<<
* Own your workspace. Another thing you can do to make it easier to get things done in your workspace is to own it. That means you put up pictures, knick-knacks, and whatever else makes you feel like this is YOUR workspace.
If there are other people living in your house, ask that this space be truly yours. That way other peoples papers, books and other items dont take over your area, nor do your resources and other items get pushed aside.
If you dont feel good about your workspace (and if your workspace doesnt make you feel good, creative and energetic), then you need to make changes. Sometimes its as simple as making sure your room is the right color and that youre getting the right amount of lighting (including natural light).
Make these small changes, and I guarantee your productivity will soar!
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