How to Make Your Workspace Work For You

Are you looking to improve your workspace at the office or in your home office?

Do you want some practical tips to make the organization process go a bit smoother.

Whether you need help organizing a desk at work or one at home, one thing remains the same.

You want to make the most out of your space.

The good news is that with a few simple tweaks, you can make your workspace more comfortable, organized, and conducive to work.

In this post, you’ll find several ideas to help you make the most out your workspace.

What Do You Use Your Desk For?

Nowadays, we mostly use our desks for computer work. And before that, you could find typewriters and pen and paper on a desk.

No matter which tools you use, the idea in any work space is to have a space dedicated to your work routine.

Do you use a computer, film yourself using a smartphone, participate in virtual meetings, or write in your work notebook?

Decide what the main function or functions of your desk will be. The next step is to organize items around those functions.

For instance, if you mainly use your desk for computer work, you’d probably want to have your computer front and center of your desk, accompanied by your computer keyboard and mouse.

If you do some writing in a notebook and use a paper planner, you can leave a space on one side of your desk for these office supply items.

Below are some ways you can make your desk arrangements more comfortable for your needs.

Making Your Desk More Comfortable

Fumbling with your phone?

Is your phone within reach or do you have to climb over items to find it?

Do you prefer speaking with/holding the earpiece on your left side or right side?

If you are left-handed and like holding the phone on your left side, it doesn’t make sense to have the phone on the right side.

What’s under your desk?

Is there something that pokes your foot or leg every time you slide your leg under the desk?

This could be a waste basket, recycling bin, empty boxes, etc.

Clear out the offending items so you have more space for yourself.

distracted by miscellaneous items at your desk?

Move or remove items from a nearby bulletin board so you’re not constantly distracted while you work.

Enter information into your contacts, address book, notebook, app, or other software program for safekeeping.

Make the Most of Items on Your desk

Corral supplies.

Make easy access to frequently used office supplies. This means no reaching over, under, through or sifting through items.

Corral like items such as: scissors, tape, stapler and staples, calculator, push pins, binder clips, ruler, pencil, pens, hole puncher, letter opener.

You can store these items on top of your desk or in a drawer. Make use of any existing office supply storage containers.

If you don’t have dedicated containers, consider using empty vessels like mugs or small boxes to contain items.

You can always upgrade to office supply or other storage containers as needed.

Work in desk areas.

Planning to organize your desk? Work one section at a time so you don’t become completely overwhelmed.

You’ll be able to see fast results in one space. This is a more effective approach rather than simply turning your entire desk completely upside down and trying to get everything sorted out.

Consider tidying up your desk area using the following desk areas:

  • Space immediately in front of where you sit (keyboard/monitor/blotter area)
  • Immediate left hand side
  • Immediate right hand side
  • Front left side
  • Front right side
  • Center drawer
  • Top drawer left/right
  • Middle drawer left/right
  • Bottom drawer left/right

Think “use now” vs. “use later.”

Why fight your way through stacks of reserve office supplies or other documents you don’t use on a regular basis?

Only keep frequently used items near your daily work area.

Identify what should and shouldn’t be on your desk. And then, find another home in your office for the latter items.

And here’s another thing to keep in mind, is there something that is already working at your work station?

If so, then keep it that way!

There’s no need to change something if it is already working for you.

As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Learn how to organize your workspace

Organizing an office well requires careful thought, planning, and of course, targeted action.

My organization guide will teach you how to be more organized around the office and home.

If you want to organize your office or home so you can find what you need when you need it, then check out my productivity consulting services. Book a strategy session with me today!

How about you? How are you going to improve your workspace? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!

5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook Mockup
About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

4 Comments

  1. Janet Barclay

    I’ve always loved my big old desk, but lately I’ve found it takes up more room than I’d like. I so rarely work with paper anymore that I really don’t need that much workspace. I will be sad to let it go, but I’m looking forward to replacing it with something sleeker and more modern!

    Reply
    • Rashelle

      Yeah, it’s a funny thing nowadays when it comes to working at a desk. The more our mobile and digital world progresses, I wonder if we’ll actually need proper desks in future. I suppose in that case we’ll have sleek and modem countertops or tables.

      Reply
      • Janet Barclay

        Good point! With so many people giving up desktop computers in favor of laptops or even tablets, maybe desks will become a thing of the past – though presumably we’ll always have work “stuff” that needs to be kept somewhere, even if it’s just our devices and chargers rather than paper files, pens, paperclips, etc.

        Reply
        • Rashelle

          Ah, yes. Time will certainly tell!

          Reply

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