Are you feeling like you’re not as productive as usual? Don’t worry you’re not alone. There’s a lot happening in the world, the 24 hour news cycle certainly doesn’t help. Even in the best of times, it can be hard to stay focused, but with news of the looming economic downturn, a tight labor market, and tumult across the globe, it’s not an easy task.
We’re not here to solve all the the worlds’ problems, but we’d love to help simplify some of yours. Sometimes even small changes to your environment or routine can have a big impact on your overally mindset and productivity.
Distractions
A messy desk can create visual clutter which in turn doesn’t allow you to focus on the task at hand. With flyers from your open house or a pile of past listings on your desk, you’re busy looking around wondering what leads you’re missing out on instead of focusing on the leads you have in front of you. Or maybe you’re busy thinking about that open house and what could have gone better, instead of a listing you just got.
Take a few minutes to sort through the papers on your desk and throw away anything that doesn’t have present or future use. Sort the rest in order of priority and what you need to address first. Maybe even jot down a short to-do list of 3-5 things that would make the week a win. Then try to do 1 or 2 of those things each day.
Digital Clutter
With so much work shifting from paper to digital, it’s easy to think that clutter doesn’t exist if you don’t see it. The computer desktop is your main hub, and when you’re in the middle of a big open house or closing a sale, it is super easy just to save everything on your desk because it’s convenient. Most people spend at least 30 minutes to an hour a day looking for papers or files.
Set aside some time to sort through your desktop and organize your files in a way that will save you time in the long run and give you a mental boost, knowing your workspace is clean and tidy.
3 Tips to Get you Started:
#1 Organize. It doesn’t matter if it’s paper or digital. Create a simple filing system for projects, leads open houses, clients, or important documents. By doing this you can spend that 30 minutes to an hour following up on a lead or closing on a sale.
#2 Natural light. Letting some natural light not only increases productivity bur increases overall mood. Workers with windows in the workplace had 173% more white light exposure during the workday and slept an average of 47 minutes more per might.
#3 Add some greenery to your workspace. Now that you’ve arranged your workspace and created a filling system, it’s time to fill in some of the space. Did you know that incorporating plants such as a cactus, fern, or flowers increases your productivity by 15%? Adding a little life your workspace can help boost your mood and provides a more visually pleasing environment.
Remember the perfect organizational system doesn’t happen right away. Take your time to create the perfect system and spaces that work for you.
