Staying Organized in a Shared Workspace
When you share a workspace, whether in an office or in a home office, it can sometimes be a struggle to stay productive and efficient. It’s necessary to keep the space organized in these situations, or overwhelm can quickly set in. Implement these simple office organizing strategies from NYC Professional Office Organizer and you will be more focused when working in a shared office.
Maximize your space. Depending on the size of the space, you might not really have room to fit in two desks, two filing cabinets, two bookshelves, etc. Don’t complicate things – keep it simple and think outside of the box. Maybe a larger desk can be shared, or a taller filing cabinet could be split between both of you. If you have separate workstations, try adding a small table and chairs for collaborative work and meetings.
Remove the clutter. In a shared workspace, clutter can be even more distracting than in other situations. Keep the excess out of your space – limit personal items to one or two things and leave the rest at home. Get rid of unnecessary electronic items. Though you will each need your own computer, you most likely do not need your own printer for example. Share larger electronics or remove them from your shared space altogether.
Be conscious about how you work best. This is so important when you work in a space where you can’t just shut the door and tune out distractions. Think about ways to create some privacy – you can add low dividers between your desks to help you stay focused. Bring in noise-cancelling headphones so you can listen to music and dig into your work.
Keep things labeled. This NYC Professional Office Organizer is always encouraging clients to label files, shelves and drawers in a practical way. This is especially important in a shared space where files can wind up on the wrong desk if you aren’t careful. Label everything and be consistent with your naming conventions. This will make it easier to find what you are looking for later, and you’ll be more likely to put it away in the correct spot in the first place.
The key to productivity in a shared office space is to stay organized, remove clutter, and find ways to improve your focus. For more hands-on office organizing strategies, reach out to your NYC Professional Office Organizer.