Paperwork is the bain of my existence. I struggle to not let it pile up. But I have noticed how much better I feel when my office is organized and (mostly) clutter free.
Clutter can affect our anxiety levels, sleep, and ability to focus, making us less productive. Cluttered spaces can trigger a sense of overwhelm and a feeling of being out of control, leading to increased stress and anxiety. Who knew the pile of unopened mail on your desk was having such a negative impact on you? No wonder you’re having a hard time sitting down to write! Clutter is distracting, making it harder to concentrate and complete tasks. Your messy desk may be fueling your procrastination.
From Psychology Today:
Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow most people to think, brainstorm, and problem-solve.
If you're having trouble making progress on your current project, spend your next block of writing time organizing your desk and office. Open that mail, pay those bills and file what you need to save. Throw away the rest.
Extra credit if you’re brave enough to post before and after pics on Instagram and tag me @thepitchmaster.
Build New Habits
- Open your mail every day, throwing out the junk and handling the rest. This daily 10 minutes will prevent papers from piling up.
- Put a weekly half hour on your calendar for office organization.
- When you finish work each day, make sure your desk is organized so you're ready to hit the ground running the next day. I like to put the next day's top five to dos on a post it note on my monitor. When I sit at my desk in the morning, I know exactly what I need to do first to get my day rolling productively.
- Every quarter, spend time decluttering your office. Are there books you can donate to the library? What can you throw away? Do you need to rearrange your furniture, so the space feels fresh?
Think of decluttering your desk as decluttering your mind so your have more space to create all the stories you want to tell. Get cracking!
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