If you work from home or have a home office, keeping it clean and tidy is an ongoing challenge. It can be difficult to find time to keep things tidy when you are busy with other aspects of your job, or when you frequently host guests at home. A messy workspace can be distracting, and can also make you feel stressed and anxious if you are constantly worrying about mess being everywhere or a stain appearing the moment you think it will. Keeping your workspace tidy requires time and dedication, but these small habits will make a big difference to your productivity and overall feelings about your working environment. If you can build a routine of regular cleaning habits into your daily or weekly routine, it will become a non-stressful part of your working life. Working from home can sometimes become something of a second home, which can be both a blessing and a curse – there are upsides and downsides to this! If you have a home office where you work from home on a regular basis, it’s important that you establish good routines and habits for keeping things tidy at home. This will help you to stay focused on your work and not get distracted by looking for that pencil that you know is on top of your desk – or by constantly trying to find the right-sized paper clip so you don’t have to bend the one in your hair dryer! Here are some tips for keeping your office clean between professional cleanings:
Declutter often
When you have a messy desk, it can be hard to know where to start when you are trying to declutter and organize. You may need to work in small ways at first, like sorting out a pile of paper into different categories. Start by decluttering the top of your desk. Paperwork related to your business can build up quickly, so you may need to make a rule for yourself that you don’t keep any paperwork on your desk longer than a week. Keep a box or drawer for paperwork you don’t need to access on a daily basis, such as receipts, tax documents, proposals, and contracts.
Schedule time for deep cleaning
If you have a home office, you may find yourself regularly working from home and having visitors at the same time. This can make it hard to find the time to deep clean your home office as often as you need to. Try scheduling a time each week or each month to deep clean your home office. This can be a time when you turn off your phone and radio, close all the blinds, and declutter the space. This can be a great opportunity to declutter and organize your space, or to set up your workspace again after a weekend of being caught up in your normal routine.
Keep tools and materials organized
If you have a home office, you may have a variety of tools and materials that you need to keep organized. This can include office supplies, computer equipment and peripherals, and even office documents and records. Try to keep everything organized in one place, and make sure you have access to everything you need. This can help you to stay organized, and will also help you to avoid the frustration of constantly looking for items that you know are somewhere in your home office, but can’t find at this moment.
Start with a thorough cleaning
If you have a messy workspace, you may need to start off with a thorough cleaning. This can include removing items from your desk, cleaning the floor, and even dusting and polishing your furniture. Once you have decluttered and organized your space, you can then proceed with a lighter cleaning that will allow you to enjoy the benefits of a clean office.
Regularly replace items that are worn or damaged
If you have items that are worn or damaged, such as pencils or paper clips, you need to replace them to ensure that you have a clean and tidy working space. You can purchase replacement items at a local office supply store, or you can make your own using supplies that you have in your home office. You can also use supplies that you have on-hand to replace items that are worn or damaged. For example, you can use a rubber band to replace a paper clip, or a zipper to replace a torn seam in your pants.
Conclusion
Keeping your office clean can be a challenge, but there are ways to make it happen. You can declutter your workspace regularly, schedule time for deep cleaning, keep tools and materials organized, start with a thorough cleaning, and regularly replace items that are worn or damaged.