What if your office supported you?

People often tell me that they feel constricted in their office. Squeezed. It’s a place that’s cluttered and provokes anxiety when they try to spend time there.

Surrounded by things to do and things neglected, it can be so hard to concentrate on the stuff that really matters. And, in these challenging economic times, there really is no better time to take your office relationship seriously.

Office relationship?

Yup. Just like a friend, your office needs your attention. It has one job to do: support you.

And with your help, your office can be a place that you love. A place that encourages your creativity. A resource that helps grow your business and helps it thrive.

Sounds good, but really?

Do you find that when your office feels out of control it’s hard to know where to start working on it? Me too. It’s all so overwhelming. It’s so much easier to ignore all that stuff, shove things out of the way.

Easier, that is, in the short term.

If you want to pay attention to your office space, the first thing you need to do is set aside the time. It doesn’t have to be a lot. Making an appointment with your office on the calendar is a great way to get things going in the right direction.

Agh! An 8-headed hydra!

Clearing a space, any space, can become an out-of-control project, running down winding rabbit trails. Because of this, it’s key to make an effort to end when you say you will.

Once you make that appointment, stick to it.

Can you imagine if someone asked for 15 minutes of your time and then took up half of their day? I don’t know about you, but I’d be kinda ticked off.

It’s the same thing when you work on your space. If you say 15 minutes, don’t force yourself to do it for a half day – or you’ll harm your relationship with your space. Keep a timer handy or a reminder of when it’s time to stop.

If you stop when you say you will, it’s a profound way to care for yourself. It’s respectful to you. You’re more likely to feel good.

Respect your time and calm the 8-headed hydra

I usually recommend that if you’re clearing out a space, a pile, a closet, that you pick up a single object and decide what to do with it before moving on to the next.

This approach works well for people who get overwhelmed by the immensity of the project. Bite-sized bits.

You’ll be surprised how much you can clear in a short amount of time. And it makes a huge difference in how you feel in your space.

Why it matters

It’s not news that we’re in an official recession – you can see signs everywhere if you look. It’s more vital than ever to have a clear strategy through this. To have a good sense of where you stand financially. To feel grounded and solid about the path you’re on in your work.

When I’m scattered, I lose things that affect my business: receipts, checks, bills, potential new clients – you know, important stuff like that. Maybe you do, too.

Caring for your office can be fun – and it can really give your business the stability it needs.

Taking action

So, here’s my challenge to you today:

1. Ask your Wise Self: “What is the one area in my workspace that, if I addressed it this month, I’d feel a lot more solid about my business.”

2. Notice what ideas come up for you. And write them down somewhere (go ahead – get a pen!).

3. Get out your calendar and decide the best times to work on this area.

And see if this investment of time helps heal your relationship with your space – and your spirit.