Clear the Clutter & Double the Productivity

I have a confession to make. A little while ago I caught myself creating paper clutter which makes me guilty of generating a multitude of activities, known as 'Busy Brain Syndrome'. I reflected on this moment of insanity and recognize I was taken on more than I was mentally able to absorb. Immediately upon acknowledging the symptoms, I made a full stop, took in a deep breath and calmly transported myself back to the present moment. The awareness transformed my thought processes to be more proactive instead of being reactive to my surroundings and began prioritizing my time with a series of logical steps.

For others, clear the clutter and double the productivity feels so far, far away. I recently guided a client through the maze of clutter that had accumulated in her tight home office space. A typical cluttered office space with piles strewn of receipts, papers, magazines, notes scribbled on an assortment of stationery, unlabeled boxes piled up on top of each other wherever space could be found. The space was compounded with toys, sewing materials, clothes; an octopus of cables, unused/antiquated electronics, children's books, an endless supply of photos accompanied with empty photo albums, indeed not exactly a focal point of business apparel. To combat the clutter, extreme measures were taken to bring back order and revive the office space.

First Things First

First things first by removing all items that are not business related. Your office space is your environment to be productive in your business ventures. Objects taking up valuable workspace are a huge distraction that limits your ability to focus your energy effectively. Your office should always be respected and never be used as a dumping ground.

Efficient and Effective Use of Space

When all the excess is removed you are then able to position office furniture that will be the most efficient and effective use of space. Consider moving the file cabinet within a close proximity to your desk to decrease paper clutter and increase the convenience of information within reach to increase productivity.

It is not uncommon to find ourselves reacting to our immediate surroundings with a fight or flight response. We need to remind ourselves to focus on one thing at a time. Instead, give ourselves the opportunity to take in what is going on around us and then decide what the necessary steps are to execute a plan to get things done. Practice this method regularly will provide clarity in your decision making process to select the best course of actions. Your mission to clear the clutter and double the productivity will be met with success.