Welcome back!
Last time you learned how to design and decorate a room that inspires you. Let’s continue with this discussion…
Engage Your Senses
When we talked about decorations and designs last time, we mainly focused on visual items such as carpet and paint color, artwork and similar items. However, whenever possible you should seek to engage multiple senses… as long as you don’t find it distracting. If you don’t find it distracting, then these sorts of items may make you feel content and creative, both of which will boost your productivity.
Let me give you examples of ways you can engage your other senses (other than sight):
- You can create a pleasant environment for your nose by using incense, scented candles, scented oils, automatic air fresheners and similar items. Several plants and flowers can also freshen a room. Open windows do wonders, especially if you have things like pine trees or lilac bushes right outside the windows. You may also spritz perfume or Febreze to freshen a room.
- You can engage your sense of hearing by using items that create low, consistent sounds (almost like white noise). This includes items like indoor fountains or waterfalls. You can also use a noise machine or CD that a variety of sounds such as spring rain shower, ocean, rain forest sounds and similar.
- You can include items in your space that are pleasing to your sense of touch, such as a soft couch, deep carpet and a comfortable office chair.
Organize and De-Clutter
You already know that getting organized helps boost your productivity. Not only do some people prefer to work in a clean environment, it’s also easier to do tasks when the resources you need are easy to find.
Here’s the thing…
Lots of people don’t worry about organization until it’s too late. They’ll let their papers, books and other items stack up on their desk and floors until it becomes virtually impossible to find anything. Then they need to spend hours if not days or even weeks getting organized. And the truth is, trying to organize a messy space just wastes time. It’s much better to plan and implement your organization system when you’re first setting up your space.
Conventional wisdom says you should get a filing cabinet where you label folders and file your papers away inside these folders. If you’re comfortable with this sort of traditional organization system, then yes… that’s what you should do. Just be sure to file everything away as soon as you’re done with it.
Some people don’t like the constraints of a file cabinet. If this sounds like you, then you need to create your own system. Perhaps you’d like to keep your resources on bookshelves, in boxes, or even in special piles on your desk or on your floor. The key is to make sure you’re comfortable with your system so that you’re motivated to use it. The second key is to create a system that doesn’t take over your office and clutter it up. Remember, your goal is to create a space that motivates and inspires you… not one that swallows you up in clutter.
That’s it for this time. Next time we’ll start a series of lessons on quick and easy tips designed to skyrocket your productivity!