How to transform your home workspace by decluttering

The pandemic caused a monumental shift in our routines catapulting us from the office to working from home.  And with more than a quarter of us still at home for at least part of the week, it’s a trend that’s endured.  But are we happier and more productive working at home?  There’s strong evidence to suggest that the art of decluttering not only improves our workspace but also makes us happier and more productive.  Intrigued?  Read on to find out more.

portable laptop on chair beside bed for remote working
laptop on chair beside bed for remote working

How decluttering improves your life

Decluttering has many benefits for mental health and wellbeing.  It helps us feel more in control of our environment which reduces stress and promotes a sense of calm.  If you share your living space, it can also help to reduce conflict and create more harmonious relationships.  Finding things easily can also save hours of teeth-gnashing frustration – making you more productive and less frazzled.  Having a home workspace that can be tidied away at the end of each day also helps separate work life from home life.  An important distinction to help us achieve work-life balance in our multi-purpose homes.

What happens to your brain when you declutter your workspace?

Mess makes stress – and it seems that even the sight of clutter can make our stress hormones spike.  Research studies demonstrate that physical clutter not only leads to stress but also depression.  This is particularly the case for women who are socialised from an early age to prioritise tidiness.  The presence of clutter is a constant visual reminder that things need to be done. And the resulting cortisol spike can also trigger anxious avoidance behaviours which stops us resolving the source of our stress.  This creates a vicious cycle of clutter creation and avoidance which when taken to extremes can result in unmanageable living conditions.

desk and computer monitor
cluttered work station

The KonMari Method of decluttering for beginners

Now a whole new industry dedicated to banishing clutter is here.  At the forefront of this vanguard is Marie Kondo – the mighty Japanese lady who has revolutionised how we fold our socks. 

The techniques involve firstly visualising your ideal lifestyle.  In terms of home working, this could include sitting at a clear desk where you can enjoy a morning coffee.  It could also include creating the space for a favourite plant that will help purify the air.  If you’re surrounded by a mass of cables, going wireless could give you the space to do some gentle stretches.  Also central to the KonMari ethos is prioritising the items that bring you joy.  Could you replace the filing cabinet in the corner with a framed photo of a favourite holiday?  Holiday snaps can revive the sense that things can be good again and help to underline the financial benefits of working.

close up of paragliders above Rhossili Beach on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales
Paragliders above Rhossili Beach, South Wales

Tidy by category and not by room

The KonMari Method focuses on tidying by category rather than room. So rather than tackling the bedroom in its entirety, you declutter clothes.  This technique can be easily applied to your home office.  Start with paper.  If you’re old school like me, you probably depend on notebooks to take notes.  Use only one notebook at a time and capture vital contact emails and phone numbers electronically.   Once the notepad’s filled, put it straight into recycling rather than filling whole filing cabinets as I’ve witnessed in the office.

Go paperless

In this digital age, going 100% paperless is the ideal scenario. But if you still deal with confidential written correspondence, you can categorise it into “File”, “Action” and “Waiting on Action” categories.  Where possible, scan it onto your computer and regularly re-visit the file categories to see what can be shredded.  Also ensure that any physical files are clearly labelled to avoid the frustration of having to hunt for things.

macbrook pro on desk
laptop on desk with cup, phone and plant

Clear your digital clutter

A whole fresh hell of clutter bedlam exists in the digital realm where vital files, documents and emails vanish into the void.  Work through files in date order starting with the oldest and be ruthless about what you need to delete.  Put the remaining documents into clearly labelled files located within easy to reach file pathways.  Unsubscribe from any mailing lists that are not essential to your role and while doing so modify your notifications to reduce distractions – particularly teams!  Check emails regularly but at set times each day to avoid being thrown off the task at hand.

Tips for decluttering a workspace in a studio or shared apartment 

f you’re in a flat share or occupy a studio, space’s at a premium and decluttering becomes vital.  Forget traditional desks which take up too much floor space and opt instead for floating desks, corner desks or ladder desks.  Corner bookcases and wall-mounted shelves also come into their own here.  Use a single storage basket or tray to file things away – the more storage you have the more clutter you’ll accumulate.  Less is always more!

Terence Conran desk, London Design Festval
Secret desk display at the London Design Festival

How to make decluttering stick going forward

Once you’ve got your home workspace under control, it’s easy to let things slide.  Don’t be tempted to let mugs, papers and other detritus mount up.  Now that most of us are compelled to hot-desk at work, apply the same principles to your home office.  Factor in ten minutes at the end of your workday to clear your desk completely and deal with any paperwork.  This will help you to shift out of work mode and relax back into home life. Make sure that you switch off your laptop and keep it out of sight where you won’t be tempted to go back in and check emails.

Creating a zen-like workspace at home takes a bit of effort but the rewards are definitely worth it.  Remember that next time you’re looking for a pair of matching socks.

Marie Kondo will be appearing in person at the Clean and Tidy Home Show at Excel, London on Saturday 19 October. (This blog post was created in collaboration with David Mahoney Communications who represent The Clean and Tidy Home Show).

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