Whether you work from home full-time or simply need a dedicated space in your home for focusing on after-hours tasks, an organized desk and office can help with focus and productivity. Here is how to tidy and organize a home office according to the Konmari Method™ by Marie Kondo.
Set Intentions
Marie believes in the power of imagining your ideal lifestyle prior to decluttering. Taking this approach when organizing your office is especially valuable, given that work plays such an integral role in our lives and our careers are often associated with major goals and milestones. Maybe you hope to earn a raise or promotion in the near future or have been laying the groundwork to launch your own company. Keep these ambitions in mind as you consider how your workspace can best serve you. You will feel inspired to design a space that will allow you to work toward your biggest dreams every day.
Discard What You Do Not Need
Go through your desk drawers and toss out old receipts, corral loose change, and recycle catalogs or other paper items that are no longer needed. When it comes to more sentimental items, such as photos or notes from friends and relatives, express gratitude for these belongings and their significance and then let go—Marie sends off such items using salt.
If you store books in your workspace, you may find yourself wishing to simplify your collection. Marie advises taking stock of your inventory and rehoming, reselling, or donating titles that you do not need. Best of all, these are all environmentally friendly practices, too!
Consolidate Everything
Marie stresses the importance of keeping all like items in the same place. If you have office supplies scattered throughout your home, take time to gather all of these belongings and then make a plan to store them all within your workspace. This way, you’ll always know exactly what you have enough of on hand versus what you need to replace or reorder, and each room of your home will serve a true purpose. You may even find yourself saving time throughout the day when you don’t have to leave your study in order to grab more printer paper from the hall closet, for example.
Gather Key Supplies
You want to ensure that your home office is a space in which you can maximize your productivity. Therefore, you’ll want to have the necessary supplies on hand to help you stay organized. Not sure where to begin? Marie is a firm believer in making a to-do list every morning; there is something extra motivating about a paper list on which you can physically check off tasks as they’re completed. Purchase a notepad and pen that will spark joy as you write down your daily goals.
Add Joy
Marie recommends placing one item on your desk that is bound to spark joy, be it a small trinket or a lively element like a plant or vase of flowers. She notes that if you’re using a multipurpose spot to work, you’ll want to clear your work essentials out of the room after your work day is over. This will eliminate visual clutter but also help signal that it’s time to switch gears. As essential as work is to our daily lives, we must not forget about the importance of downtime, too!
