You may think organising your study table, or home office takes so much of your time before reading this, but if you look at the minutes or hours you consume rummaging through your drawers or bumping into items on your desk, you will understand the importance of the process.
Research suggests that a messy workstation indicates creativity, but others believe in the power of neatness in line with productivity. The thing about organisation is that it can be different for everyone, and you don't have to create an aesthetic, Pinterest-worthy desk to be productive. The important thing is to set up a working area that you will enjoy and that will not hinder your tasks.
We compiled some design and organisation tips to help you create a productive study or workspace.
Choose the Right Desk for Your Needs
The key to a productive workspace is a suitable office desk. You might be working on a computer or a laptop. You might need enough table surfaces for your files or accessible storage to keep your essentials. When choosing your office or computer table, get one with the right height and ample work surface while still making sure that it fits your area. If you plan to stay at your desk for hours, prioritise an ergonomic or adjustable standing desk. You may also look for an office table with built-in storage.
Free Your Desk from Clutter
Remove unnecessary items from your desk to save you time looking for your essentials. You may completely clear off your desk to purge what you don't need and wipe your surface clean before rearranging your stuff. Decluttering will not only save you extra space but will also help you assess your storage needs.
Look for files or office items that you can already get rid of. If you have broken equipment, send it out for repair.
Get the Right Filing Unit
Whether going for a traditional office filing unit or considering a mobile pedestal and other modern organisation systems, you must first identify how you want to manage your supplies. Our paper files have significantly decreased since we are already in a digital age. If you still have printed files on hand, dedicate a safe place to arrange them and keep them accessible. To make it easier to find your essentials, set some labels or a list of what goes inside every drawer.
Arrange Your Drawers
Reducing visual clutter is important to creating a conducive workspace. That’s why we really love using pull-out drawers in our offices or study corners. However, these drawers are often misused, leaving a mess inside, which is still inefficient. Do you have smaller objects like paper clips, pins, pens, flash drives, and stationery items? These small essentials do not just easily get lost; if they are carelessly kept, you are prone to accidents, especially when sharp objects are everywhere. Get some drawer organisers to divide a spacious drawer into smaller portions, giving your small items enough space to be organised. When storing on a pedestal, place paper files and heavier items at the bottom, files that you need immediate access to in the middle, and office supplies on top. As much as possible, separate your office items from your personal items.
Place Frequently Used Items Within Your Reach
Position your office or study essentials near your reach to avoid wasting your time every time you need to take something out of your drawer. If there are things you frequently need, like your pens, you can set up clear containers or mini organisers on your desk. When arranging your space, it's important to play with your office desks' orientation, especially if you have little space. You may invest in an L-shaped office table with ample space for your computer and paper files. The L-shaped layout will help you reach more items without needing an extra desk.
Organise Your Cords
Aside from paper files and equipment, cable clutter causes a major hassle. When it gets hard to identify which is which, it's high time you organise your cables once and for all. Some ways you can organise your cords are to hide them as much as possible to get rid of the eyesore and bundle them in a cable management system. Many computer tables come with cable holes that make management more attainable. For chargers and other cables directed to your computer or laptop, use a wire organiser that you can stick to your table. Colour code your organisers to prevent confusion.
Establish Work Zones
What types of activities are done in your area? Are you doing more computer tasks? Do you need a place for drafting? Based on your work needs, you can establish various zones like the main work area, a supply space, and a reference corner. Group your items together by zone as follows:
- Main work area (computer or laptop and work essentials)
- Supply space (from large office equipment to small supplies)
- Reference corner (calendars, memos, and filing cabinet)
Strategically, you may keep your storage space near your dominant hand to reach what you need with less effort. If your desk is against a wall, you can utilise that space by installing shelves. When adding a light source to your desk, place it far enough away not to be a distraction.
Get a Trash Bin
Speaking of organisation, you shall never compromise the cleanliness of your space. Prevent unnecessary items from piling on your desk by throwing them immediately into your trash bin. When buying a bin, look for something spacious enough that has a lid to keep your space tidy and fresh.
Make Your Workspace Comfortable
Nothing's better than a comfortable workspace. Even after clearing your clutter and organising your space, having an uncomfortable setup will still impact productivity. Are you having back problems when working at your desk? Investing in a supportive ergonomic chair and spacious desk is crucial to keeping you comfortable while working.
Invite natural light into your office to prevent your eyes from straining, especially when working in front of the computer the whole day. Adjust your computer monitor accordingly to avoid neck and back pain.
Do some stretches and stand up once in a while. Even better, use a standing desk.
Surround Yourself with Things that Inspire You
A proper office and study room don't end with the essentials and the cookie-cutter setup. There are no rules for what you need to include in your home office design. Do you want to hang photos or show off your mementos? Express your personality with decorative elements that inspire you. Make a mini-library with a free-standing bookshelf, create a gallery wall, or buy decorative organisers of different colours. Add potted plants to refresh your area. There is no limit to designing a creative and productive space.
Productivity requires the right attitude and a conducive environment. We hope that the tips above will help you establish a more inspiring and productive space for studying and remote working.