Think of your brain as a storage unit. While it grows with every day that passes, it still can only contain so much information at once. When you’re working on something difficult, a lot is required from your brain. So, while you’re struggling to figure out an error you made in a sequence, you don’t want to constantly shift your attention to the mess around you.
You can avoid the hassles of a messy workspace by practicing good habits and putting in place a routine that works for you.
Get started on cleaning your workspace with these seven simple workspace organization tips.
Ditch the Sticky Notes
Sticky notes are bright so they can catch our eye and remind us of something important. Their strength, unfortunately, is also their weakness.
Sticky notes can be distracting, especially when they’re piled one on top of the other around the edges of the screen, only after they’ve fallen for the fiftieth time and are covered in the dog’s hair and dirt — you get the point.
Most computers offer some sort of notepad for your desktop that allows you to constantly display reminders off to the side, no paper needed.
Keep Necessary Items Close
The things you use for most for work should never be far enough that you give yourself excuses to not put them away.
Get a Paper Shredder
Since we’re on the topic of paper, you should get yourself a paper shredder. You can get one for as low as $20 in most places and they really help you get rid of excess, unnecessary paper. Plus, it’s just really satisfying to shred paper, trust us.
Adopt Hobby Methods
The same methods that have kept baseball and Pokemon cards of the world in mint condition can also be used for your work or school materials. If you have any literature or things like documents, manuals, or reviews, they should be kept in some sort of plastic sleeve or folder at least.
Take Note of Your Snack’s Packaging
There are times when you’ll get hungry while working on something, and you should always have a snack nearby for this reason. Make sure the snacks you eat don’t have excessive packaging and that you don’t eat a bunch of small snacks with individual wrappers. Also, chocolate can get everywhere, which brings us to our next point…
Clean Your Screen
If you’re working on a project for work or school, constantly noticing dirt and smudge marks on your screen will get on your nerves after a while. If you have a tablet or a laptop with touch screen capabilities a dirty screen will seriously slow down your work. Your websites and coding creations will look much better on a clean screen.
Time to Delete
As a coder, the mess inside your computer is just as important as the area around it. Every week or so make it a habit to clean up your unnecessary files and empty out your Recycle Bin. This cleans up your computer, makes it run faster, and reduces the risks of viruses and malware.
With a clean workspace, you can focus on the task at hand and not worry about a slow computer or roaches using your keyboard as a labyrinth.
