It may be a talent-driven market, but being organized, productive, and effective are still key components of career success. Too much clutter can block your creative energies. Optimizing your workspace will enhance your ability to excel. Following a few simple suggestions can change the way you work, increase your focus, concentration, and productivity.

Declutter: Clutter comes in a variety of shapes and forms. It’s crucial that you remove the overgrowth of “stuff” on your desk and computer, as well as the merry-go-round of thoughts in your mind.

• Desk clutter: Visible chaos will drain and overwhelm you before your day begins. What’s more, mounds of paper attract dust and mold, precursors to asthma and allergies, and higher stress levels that lead to health problems. If you face a work area that’s covered in sky-high piles of paper, notes, folders, and tools – not to mention last year’s Christmas list, it’s time to declutter. Throw out the obsolete and unnecessary. Organize what you keep – the “a place for everything and everything in its place” idea sticks around for a reason.
• Digital clutter: Did you ever begin your workday asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” Your desktop is full of icons and folders, your inbox count is over 1500, and your social media icons are dinging with notifications. Excess clutter on your computer can slow both it and you down, leaving you on the verge of a quasi-melt-down before 10 AM. Keep email in check by responding promptly, and then deleting or archiving accordingly. Organize your folders and periodically clear out the unnecessary. Control your apps and programs before they control you. Eliminate junk files.
• Mental Clutter: Mind clutter occurs as you think about deadlines, to do lists, meetings to schedule, and critical projects to complete. This can become overwhelming, and it’s likely that details will fall through the cracks. Get help organizing your thoughts and responsibilities with programs like Evernote and Bearto help you release the avalanche of ideas in your head and convert them into a well-organized system.

Lighting: According to Phyllis Zee, MD, a Northwestern Medicine neurologist, and sleep specialist.  “There is increasing evidence that exposure to light, during the day — particularly in the morning — is beneficial to your health via its effects on mood, alertness, and metabolism.”

Not everyone occupies a prominent corner office with wall-to-wall windows, but there are ways to improvise.  When possible, arrange your work area to face the closest window and replace your incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs.

Back to Nature: Studies show that green workspaces increase productivity and employee satisfaction, and decrease stress. If your employer had not yet “gone green,” you can create your own botanical space by bringing plants or aromatic flowers to your work area.

Positivity: Creating a positive work environment may be one of the best ways to optimize your space. Strategically place a few favorite inspirational sayings in your work area. Focus on the positive side – especially when a crisis arises. Share encouraging, affirmative thoughts and comments with your co-workers. When your work area is cheerful, you will be more productive.

Bottom line. Optimizing your workspace will optimize your work performance, encourage success in work and life, and improve your health. Follow these suggestions, and you will be happy with the positive changes that will occur.

Sometimes optimizing your workspace isn’t enough of an answer and what you really need is a new job. Visit us at Springborn Staffing and discover why we’re Maine’s leading staffing firm – offering superior career opportunities for talented job seekers.