How do you feel when you walk into your office? Do you feel inspired or do you feel overwhelmed? You want to feel inspired. You want to walk in ready to take on the day and do great things. Creating a space that does this for you is unique to every person. Here is a simple tip that may help you. It is an important part of my daily routine. And when I ignore the task it always catches up to me.

For as long as I can remember, I have tried to leave work each day with a clean desk. A blank slate so to speak for the next day. An environment ready for me to dive right in. Here are a few quick steps to add to your daily routine to make sure your tomorrow gets off to a productive start.

  • A Quick Clean — End each day with a quick 5 minutes or less cleanup of your desk. Okay so the first time out this may take you longer but once you make it a routine I promise it won’t. Is there anything left over that needs to be handled, put away, or tossed? Do it.
  • Set Up Tomorrow — What is on your agenda for first thing the next day? Do you need a file or notes on hand ready to go? Get them out and put them right in the middle of your workspace. No looking for things in the morning. Turn on the lights, computer, etc. and you’re ready to go.
  • Walk Away — Walk away for the day. This routine will help you not only prepare for tomorrow but also create a mental end to your day. You’ll know there are no landmines waiting on your desk. You will know where you are going to start the next day. Now go enjoy your “off” time.

By: Amy Matthews, CEO, AMI