Making your office a creative space

6 Mar 2015

Whether we manage people or products, a place to work and even simply relax should not be hard to come by. This place should inspire you creatively and help to keep you productive.

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net

These tips will help you make sure that your work environment motivates and inspires you.

Make yourself comfortable. Your chair should seat you comfortably at an ergonomically correct position. You will be more productive since you don't have to worry about aches and pains.

Inspire yourself. Place your most inspirational things around you where they won't hamper your work. Love your family? Put a picture of them where you can see. Have some books or artworks that inspire you? Place them nearby so you can flip through them to renew your creativity.

Clear your clutter. Your creative thinking processes will be hampered if you look around you and see coiled cables that don't belong to any device, piles of papers that need to be sorted, or dirty coffee cups. Make sure you put everything back where it belongs when you're finished with it. Besides, if you have to work but you need to clean your desk first, you will simply be distracted and lose whatever inspiration you arrived at your desk with.

Organise yourself. Having a spot for everything will prevent clutter on your desk and help you arrange your office space immediately instead of wondering where to put something. Use labelled paper trays and files, compartmentalise your drawers with plastic boxes for all your stationery, batteries, and other little items, and make sure there's a wastepaper bin close to your desk so you can get rid of unnecessary paperwork immediately. If you'd rather go paperless, here are our tips on how to get yourself digitally organised.

Water yourself. It is very important for your mind for you to keep yourself hydrated. If your brain cells are working on insufficient water, their function will be hampered, and so will your creativity. Keep a water dispenser nearby so you don't have to walk away from what you're doing.

Split your office into zones. Have a cosy seat where you can eat your lunch and have coffee - no eating at your desk, because it is important for you creatively to have a break now and then. If you have the space, put in an extra seat for meetings so your desk is exclusively for work.

Bring in nature. Surround yourself with natural fibres and plants, and ensure that you have plenty of natural light filtering into your office. Natural light is not only good for your spirits and creativity, but also for your health.

Avoid interruptions. Set aside a time of day - aside from lunch or tea - where you can deliberate on your ideas without distraction. Use this time to make to-do lists, arrange your schedule, or write down ideas. Accept no telephone calls, don't answer mail, or check your phone.

If you stick to these eight tips, you're certain to nurture your creativity!?? We also have 4 tricks that can help you to train your creative side if you're in a slump.?????

Source: Biz4Afrika

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