As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, it’s not uncommon for many of us to feel a drop in energy and motivation. The enticing thought of a warm blanket and a hot drink at home on the sofa can make the office feel a lot less inviting, and for your team, can start to affect productivity.
When this happens, it’s time to fight back by refreshing and reorganising your office space. Creating a structure and a well-organised spaces can make a significant difference in how focussed and energised you can feel, helping to combat the seasonal slowdown.
Less Mess, Less Stress
A cluttered desk can often lead to a cluttered mind. With motivation lacking, it’s easy for paperwork, office supplies and other bits and pieces to start piling up across your desk. While it may seem like a lot of effort to tidy up, clutter can actually drain your mental energy, making it harder to focus on tasks.
Go through your desk and decided on what needs to stay, and what needs to go. File away any paperwork you no longer immediately need and throw away everything without purpose that’s accumulated over time.
File digitally where possible. Scanning and saving files digitally will free up a tonne of physical space and reduce the mental load of piling papers.
File with Purpose
When you’re ready to start filing, it’s important to have the right tools and processes in place. An outdated and inefficient filing system can cause you a lot of stress. Having well organised processes in places will allow you to retrieve documents quickly and minimised the frustration of searching through a disorganised mess.
Now is the perfect time to review your filing practices and implement some helpful improvements before the new year creeps up on you.
Focus
Your office should be a space that supports productivity and focus. One way to enhance your work environment is by creating dedicated zones that serve specific purposes. While there is always time for “water-cooler talk”, there should be spaces for employees to knuckle down and get stuck in.
If you can accommodate it, then it’s fantastic to include areas around the office where workers can either collaborate, take a break or focus.
Lighten up!
One of the biggest changes now Autumn is here is the reduced daylight hours. Both commuting to the office in the dark and travelling back home with no sunlight can be a real kicker for employees, and a dim office won’t help the situation. A lack of natural light can make you feel sluggish, and poor office lighting will strain your eyes, causing discomfort and fatigue.
Maximise as much natural light as possible, use desk lamps with adjustable lighting, and opt for warm lighting in your break area, which can help to create a more relaxed environment.
A well organised office is your secret weapon against the Autumn blues, helping you to stay energised and on top of your work as the season changes. Let us know how Autumn is affecting you in the comments, and what you’re going to do about it!