Cup of Inspiration

Today, October 4^th, we make a fresh start with the place that holds our attention much of the day, our office.

Our offices come in many forms. For some, the office is a traditional small area of a building where the door can be closed to help shut out all distractions for a busy workday. For some, the office space is a cubicle that provides just a little bit of privacy along with an open-door policy, or rather no door policy, for anyone needing to get the occupant’s attention. Some may not even have the walls of a cubicle. These are the workers reporting to a desk in an open floor plan, whose “office” is their small portion of the floor space.

There are, of course, those offices which are not within a company’s building. These home offices are held within the home as a place for the occupant to work. That work may involve finishing assignments for a company, completing freelance projects, or even balancing the household budget. Whether or not the work is for a paycheck or for personal use, the home office is a place where the user needs to concentrate on work that can bring stress.

While we may feel stress in our office space, there are things we can do to help alleviate that stress. Look at your workspace and see where you can make improvements. Begin with a basic cleaning such as a little dusting and wiping down your electronics. While you’re at it, see where you can do some decluttering. Look to see what really needs to remain on your desk. Keep only the items necessary to help you do your job, like reference materials for a current project. Also keep items that help you get through the day, such as pictures of loved ones. For anything else, look to see where you can file it for future use.

After a little cleaning and decluttering, consider what else can help you be productive. If there’s room, would a plant help? Would a chair help your back on those long workdays? Maybe now is the time to consider a desk that allows you to work standing up for part of the day.

For Improve Your Office Day, take a fresh look at your workspace, where you spend a large portion of your day. Even if this space is for handling the household, make it a place where you can show your best work with the least amount of stress.