Tips for Spring Cleaning your Work Life
Whilst January is traditionally associated with new resolutions and fresh starts, many people find the month of April the perfect time for change. Extra daylight and the change in season often signifies a time for new beginnings, and gives many people the chance to examine and take stock of various areas of their life. Refreshing our spaces and minds can be a great way to increase focus and reset our mindset, which is a principle we can apply to our work life! It is the perfect time to evaluate what is working well and what might need improved so we can look ahead.
In this blog, we will look at ways in which you can spring clean your work life to head into the new season refreshed and refocused.
1. De-clutter your space
One of the most effective ways to spring clean your work life is by de-cluttering your space- both physically and digitally! The benefits of having a clean and tidy workspace have long been hailed, with research showing that it can help us to focus better and boost productivity. Cluttered desks, leftover food and wastepaper are just some of the most common items that contribute towards a messy workspace, so why not take half an hour this month to do a clear out?
This principle also applies to your digital space. How many unread emails do you have sitting in your inbox? Are you subscribed to endless mailing lists that are no longer relevant? Do you have a method of categorising your emails to make them easier to navigate?
Many of us are guilty of letting emails build up in our inbox, which can often lead to the ones you need being difficult to access. Taking time to sort through your emails and deleting what you don’t need can help you organise your tasks and refocus your priorities so that you can enter this new season organised. This also goes for your documents and files! A top tip for emails is to categorise them by topic, project or client - many email platforms offer this as a free tool, making it easier to pick up previous communications if you ever need them!
2. Smarter scheduling
Revamping the ways in which you plan your time can be a great reset for the new season, and spring can be a perfect time to try and incorporate new habits! Using your time more efficiently gives you more time to focus on your priorities, and one such method that has grown in popularity is ‘time blocking’. Time blocking entails planning out your whole workday, down to specific five-minute tasks, with scheduled time for breaks to ensure you are taking time for rest. Laying out your to-do list at the start of the day can give you a big-picture idea of what needs done and can help you keep track of your goals!
Categorising tasks can also be an effective way of clearing out unnecessary distractions. Make a to-do list and ask yourself, what are the quick-win, five-minute tasks I need to get done today? What are the larger, 15–30-minute tasks that I need to carve out some more time for? And what are the ongoing, big-picture projects that I need to be mindful of in the coming days, weeks, or months? By laying these tasks out, it will make prioritising easier and make sure you are on top of your work.
3. Optimise team communications and look to your team for feedback
One great way of resetting the work routine is to assess what is working, and what isn’t. Feedback from your team can be a great way to figure this out, with many teams suffering from email fatigue or having different preferences for how meetings are conducted.
A 2021 Forbes survey found that email fatigue could lead to 38% of workers quitting their jobs, due to how email overload can weigh on their minds. To combat this, new communication platforms such as Slack and Google have been created to make communications more informal and accessible. Mixing up how you do meetings and the frequency at which you have them can also help to keep your team engaged and focused.
How can serviced offices help you de-clutter your work life?
Serviced offices provide a range of benefits for business owners looking to simplify their operations. With full housekeeping teams who keep your space clean and tidy, to food and beverage amenities and maintenance and bills included, as well as a dedicated clients services team who look after all the menial tasks of running a business, serviced offices offer your team a healthier, happier place to work.
If your business is looking for a new workspace with added benefits as standard, contact venYou today on +44(0)28 9091 8500 or email dlinehan@venyou.co.uk.
www.venyou.co.uk