It is undeniable that, for many people, a clear workspace correlates to higher productivity. Less clutter means fewer things your mind has to process at one time, allowing you to focus better for longer.
My attention span is seriously lacking, and since working from home, I have realized that reducing visual clutter is the key to being productive.
After working like this for the better part of the last five years, I have picked up three quick focus-boosting tricks when decluttering the home office – and they’ve completely changed the way I work for the better.
3 ways to reduce visual clutter in a home office
Organizing a desk and minimizing visual clutter in a home office might sound like a sticking plaster for poor concentration, but, as one study indicates, ‘office clutter significantly impacted certain occupational outcomes that are pertinent to employees’ health and performance, such as stress and emotional exhaustion.’
In other words, working in a cluttered space negatively impacts a person's ability to perform well and can also become a source of stress and poor health.
That’s why I stick to these three essential home office tasks to make my small home office more peaceful.
1. The eyeline test
If it's in my eye line and I don't need it, it has to go.
One of the easiest home office productivity tips I use is the eyeline test. As the name suggests, I spend a few minutes clearing away anything in my direct eyeline that I do not need to do my job (essentially everything bar my computer equipment).
It is a trick I learned from cleaning expert Scott Schrader, of CottageCare, who explains that decluttering your ‘stress sightline’ is quick and keeps tidying simple, but brings great positive impact.
Scott adds, ‘Put piles of mail away and clear out dirty dishes that might be nagging at you quietly. It's a small step, but it creates mental space instantly.’
‘These micro-tasks aren't about getting it perfect. It is about reestablishing control,’ he added, and is a low lift task that can also help you to relax when your house is a mess.
2. Designate drop spots
Keeping mess behind me prevents temporary distractions.
It is all well and good clearing away items I don’t need for work, but they are usually on my desk for a reason – I need them at other points in the day or week outside of work.
Sometimes, they have been placed there by way of reminding me to complete a task, which is the core tactic in the Overly Inconvenient Decluttering Method.
So, to reduce visual clutter on my home office desk, I designate a drop spot that is allowed to be messy so long as it is tucked away behind me, where it can’t become a distraction throughout the working day.
As we are often stressed by the visual clutter of open storage, I'd rather throw them all on a side table or shelf. I use a basket, such as this woven basket from Target, to stop the pile from becoming overwhelming, keeping it all contained without looking too disruptive.
Opting for an easily portable basket with handles for my chosen drop zone also makes putting the items away when I have the time easier, especially for items that don’t belong in my home office.
3. Digitize what I can
Digitizing notes and documents keeps my desk and drawers clear.
Organizing paperwork at home is one of my least favorite tasks. So, while some documents are best kept as physical copies (stashed away in a waterproof, fireproof document bag, from Walmart), I try to digitize the rest.
Not only does it reduce visual clutter in my home office and save space in home office storage, but it also allows me to Ctrl+F search important documents at a moment’s notice.
I use an app on my phone to scan documents and send them to my laptop, finding this to be the quickest and most affordable option; however, you can invest in an Epson mobile document scanner from Best Buy if you need higher fidelity scans.
To stay on top of visual clutter, Alesia Chumakova, a digital decluttering and sustainability enthusiast with iScanner, suggests, ‘Adopt a habit of scanning all paper items that arrive in your home office and recycling them. A small paper shredder, from Walmart, makes this quick and easy.
Alesia adds, ‘Also, avoid printing out documents as much as possible and use mobile devices to store them digitally.’
Just be sure to engage with some digital decluttering on occasion to reduce the risk of overloading your computer or forgetting vital files.
What to shop
Two sizes
Woven baskets are perfect for corralling office supplies on my open shelving, helping to keep things neat but easily accessible.
For documents you need to keep physical copies of, an expanding file folder is a must. They make categorizing by type simple while protecting them from tears and spills.
I started using dry erase boards for my quick notes in college and have kept up with the habit. It is more sustainable than using paper or sticky notes, and doesn't result in lots of paper clutter.
With a 8.5" x 72" maximum scan size, this mobile scanner enables you to capture entire pages easily, and with perfect clarity.
A small paper shredder makes getting rid of paper clutter quicker and easier, so you no longer end up with a massive stack to manually cut up.
This handy desk organizer looks more sleek than the traditional wire organizers, offering you space for larger notebooks, pens, and even a mini to-do list to help keep you on task.
FAQs
Why do I always have a messy desk?
People can have messy desks for several reasons. For some, it is a result of creativity, where you have so much to do and focus on that clutter that naturally accumulates as you flick between tasks.
For others, it may be that you are struggling with organization and are not sure what you need and when.
No matter what the cause, it can help to establish ‘zones’ on your desk to break up the visual mess. Have one area for stacking items you are currently using, one for items you have used but may need to refer back to, and another for items you are finished with (maybe keeping this to the side of you, rather than on your desktop).
This can help to create some order without being impractical or requiring you to delve into a ruthless decluttering session.
Meet the expert
Scott is a cleaning expert at CottageCare, which is a leading home cleaning company with over 41 locations nationwide. He's a big believer in using eco-friendly cleaning solutions like baking soda.
Reducing visual clutter in a home office is just one of the ways you can boost your productivity. There are some great scents for boosting productivity that you can try, too, for a more focused environment that appeals to all of your senses.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.