Most business owners fall into two camps: pretty together or frustratingly disorganized. And I want to say right off the bat that neither of these ways is “wrong” or “right,” they’re just more or less effective. Having been in the “frustratingly disorganized” camp most of my life, I’m not quick to judge.
Yup.
What I believe is that you have a unique organizing style that can effectively support your business, regardless of which camp you’re in. You may not have discovered it yet. And if you have, there are always more ways to tweak it – so that your systems really support your business.
How to Find Your Unique Organizing Style
1. Start with inquiry and curiosity
If you’re the kind of person who likes to bash themselves over the head with self-criticism, I recommend that you stop – in the interest of self-care and progress. It’s just not helpful.
Allow yourself to become curious and interested in what you’re all about. This might be a stretch, but allow yourself to begin feeling childlike wonder about your workspace like it’s something you’ve never seen before. Cultivate an attitude of discovery.
2. Explore and define your ideal working environment
The single most powerful thing you can do is to get in touch with how you’d really like it to be. Set aside the reality of it for a few minutes, and write (if you like) responses to the following:
- How do I want to feel when I’m working?
- What do I want my space to feel like?
- What functional details would I like to have?
Even if your sense is vague right now, it can and will get clearer over time if you keep asking yourself these questions.
3. Look at the reality and take one step toward your ideal
Once you’ve identified your ideal space, look at the reality.
- What’s currently working for you?
- What’s really not working right now?
- What would you like to adjust?
When you ask these questions in earnest, you’ll begin to discover what’s going on. If you’re patient, you may also notice ideas and actions begin to come up that can bring you closer to your ideal.
The Big Picture
I want to emphasize that creating a really functional office is an evolutionary process, not a revolution. You won’t get hit by a bolt from the blue and discover The Perfect Way, but you will unearth pieces of the puzzle over time. And that’s what creates a strong foundation for your business.
So, back to you, I’m wondering what’s your next step. What is one small, incremental change you want to make that will bring you more functionality and focus? Share with us in the comments below!
Looking for more great reads? Check out these related articles:
- Starting the Journey to Organized Home Office Bliss
- Simply Organized: Seven Tips to Boost Workplace Productivity
- Americans Spend the Equivalent of 4 Days Every Year Looking for Things
- How to Organize All of Your Creative Ideas
- Workspace Organizational Tips & Inspiration
- Happy Organize Your Home Office Day!
