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Personal Productivity: Creating an Efficient Workspace

Many of us lead such busy lives that it can be difficult to take a step back and determine how to use resources to maximize your time and abilities. However, taking a step back and making a few changes to create a good workspace will benefit you in the long run. It’s an investment of time that will help you be more productive for the long-term and help you feel more peaceful while you are working on projects, taking care of business or just spending time leisurely in your office space. Here are a few bits of advice for setting up a workspace that will welcome you and hopefully lower stress levels. 

Furniture Investments

For an office space, the general rule says that less is more. A desk space, cabinets to hold files and clutter, and a place for clients to sit are likely the only elements you’ll really need. Rather than piecing together your storage pieces with a multitude of small cabinets and containers, invest in cabinets that go along one wall or a row of filing cabinets to keep lines neat and eliminate clutter. Clutter in an office will make you feel overwhelmed. Keep the décor simple as well. A few large paintings and smaller décor items will suffice, along with a nice rug and decorative pillows on the seating arrangements. Too many knickknacks look unprofessional and messy.

Desk Space

Your desk space is the most important space in your office. Business or home office desks offer you open space to spread out and accomplish what you need.  Be generous in the amount of desk space you give yourself, so you don’t feel cluttered with just a few sheets of paper on your desk. Create space for elements you need, such as an inbox, a file keeper, a computer monitor and keyboard, and anything else you might use. Create systems right away for keeping clutter away. If you don’t have time to file office papers right away, create a “To File” folder that keeps everything together, and go through to file this once a week. Keep pens, stapler, tape, paperclips, and other frequently used supplies within easy reach. Consider an ergonomic chair or under-desk keyboard holder to promote good posture and back health. Ergonomic chairs are designed to support the natural curve of your spine. This can help to reduce tension in your back and shoulders, and it can also promote better posture. Additionally, many ergonomic chairs offer adjustable seat heights and lumbar supports, so you can customize the chair to fit your specific needs. And if you have bad hips, an ergonomic chair can help to take pressure off of your joints and help with hip pain management. These chairs can be a bit pricey but are definitely a worthwhile investment for any office space.

Supplies

It’s difficult to get a project done if you run out of ink, paper, or other supplies. Chances are something will break or you’ll run out of an important component right in the middle of a stringent deadline. Office supplies are the last thing you’ll want to have to buy in a moment of stress. If you don’t have an assistant or are stocking your home office, be sure to take an inventory of your supplies on a consistent basis and replenish them proactively, keeping a cupboard full of frequently used supplies to grab at a moment’s notice. You’ll be so glad to have a good stock of items the next time you have an office supply emergency.

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