10 ways to keep your desk tidy while you work from home
Since working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems my desk collects more and more…stuff. Often times I place items like sunglasses or clothing items innocently on the corner and the next thing I know, I can find the surface of my desk. I’m sharing some items for you to consider while you work from home yourself.
I’ve found it important to keep my workspace clean and organized because when it’s a comfortable space, my focus and productivity increase, especially when I work from home. I run my own business so I create my own schedule. As freeing as the flexibility may be at times, it is also challenging to stay focused. For example, it’s harder for me to stay focused on my work tasks when my workspace (including my desk and surrounding areas) are cluttered. So instead of focusing on my work, I get distracted with laundry, fluffing pillows or cleaning the bathroom… Check out my another post I wrote about how I overcome this daily. But, I finally realized there are a few essential things I need to stay focused and have a productive work day.
Your favorite water bottle or drinking cup
While staying seated for an extended period of time, even if it’s only a few hours, it’s important to keep yourself hydrated. My favorite things to drink in my favorite cup are iced coffee, sparkling water or still water with lemon. I feel fresh and focused throughout the day.
TIP: Spice it up by adding your favorite coaster – find something that inspires you or brings you comfort!
A dedicated spot for your phone
Do you have a love-hate relationship with your phone like I do? It’s the perfect distraction to a productive environment, especially while I work from home. If you are disciplined, find a space where you can keep your phone where you can access if needed, but not where it will distract from your focus.
If you’re like me, I have to keep mine in the desk drawer or on a table behind me. The out-of-sight out-of-mind method works best for me. Yet if I need to answer a business call or respond to a business text, I can do so.
An inspiring notebook or notepad
If you’re like me, you may have notes spread out all over the place! After a while, it’s hard to keep priorities straight let alone remember what I was thinking whole work days ago! I like to find fun notebooks to add my daily to-dos or meeting notes in. It spices up my workspace and allows me to keep everything together in 1 place. I find most of my favorite notebooks at TJ Maxx and/or HomeGoods.
Add a lamp to create mood lighting
Setting the tone at your work from home workstation is crucial. I personally hate overhead lighting. The more natural light, the better! I have only 1 small window in my office, so I like to flood the room with lamp lighting. This creates a comfortable space that allows for creativity and a more calming approach to business interactions.
That wraps up the top 5 must-have items to keep at your desk to stay focused and remain comfortable during extended work periods – whether you are working from home or in an office.
I added 5 more items that I think are also great to have to increase focus and productivity.
A comfortable chair
As you can tell, I am all about comfort! Being comfortable is essential to being productive. Think about it… do you like to stay in places that are uncomfortable to you? No! Of course not! So finding a chair that is comfortable and breeds good posture is vital. And if you’re like me, my feet tend to get cold after sitting for extended periods of time, so I like to keep a fuzzy pair of house shoes or slippers nearby along with a decorative blanket to throw over my lap.
TIP: If you don’t want to buy a new chair, add a lumbar cushion or a coccyx cushion to easily help with comfort.
A personalized screen saver
I love having personal pictures at my desk, but since I work from home, I don’t have the space on my desk to display them. One creative way to display these is by adding them to your screensaver or computer background. You can even create a slideshow to display more than just one. Pick out some pictures that make you happy and display them proudly! Use pictures of your pets, kids, family, favorite scenery, memorable moments, etc. Get creative and have fun!
An organized filing system
Even with the capabilities of technology these days, loose papers still find their way into the workspace. I have multiple filing systems using a variety of methods. I have a metal filing cabinet that keeps my current personal information (kept next to my desk), a collapsible file folder for my business (kept under my desk) and other portable filing storage bins kept in a closet for past records, etc.
By having these systems convenient and clearly labeled, it gives me no excuses to have piles of paperwork on my desk. And by filing things when they need to be filed, it doesn’t turn into a huge task because I do a little at a time rather than letting things pile up… literally!
1 or 2 of your favorite books
As someone who creates digital content for a living, I am always referencing books I’ve read for quotes, highlighted notes or general concepts. I don’t have space for a book shelf (yet!) or else I would keep of my books handy. So for now, I rotate a few of them out at a time to help spawn creativity.
The books I currently have at my desk are: the Bible, Today Matters by John C. Maxwell and Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki.
Extra hair accessories
Obviously this one is for the ladies out there. And you know you are always messing with your hair. And you know as well as I do that finding a hair tie or clip is nearly impossible, even when you have tons… somewhere! Keep a few extra in a drawer or somewhere near your desk that you can access conveniently. When my hair is out of my face or pulled back, I am much more productive and focused, or else I could play with it all day without even realizing it.
I hope these tips help you like they’ve helped me during my work from home time.