Is Your Space a Waste? 7 Tricks to Create a Productive Workspace

Regardless of the size of your workspace, there are things you can do to not only make it more efficient for you, but to also discourage coworkers from spending their free time there. Yes, you want your coworkers to feel as if they can drop by to conduct business; however, to maintain a solid level of productivity, you need to spend most of your workday actually working. With that in mind, here are seven tips for organizing your workspace to make you more productive.

Tip 1: Make Your Workspace Unappealing to Others
One of the first things that employees usually do when they take over a cubicle or office is to make it their own. That may mean rearranging furniture or adding personal items. Before you get too comfortable, consider the message you're sending to coworkers. By adding cozy chairs, nice plants, a candy dish, and music, you make your space too inviting. And what that invites is interruptions. To maintain productivity, keep the coziness to a minimum.

Tip 2: Design Your Workspace So It Works for You
While you may only have a limited number of design options and pieces of office furniture, you still need to consider functionality. This can mean having additional countertops if you need to work on large projects or more filing space if your position requires it. It might also mean eliminating that extra desk chair your talkative coworker always plants himself in or that small shelving unit that only seems to fill up with clutter.

Tip 3: Plan Your Space
The way to get the most functionality out of your space is to plan the layout in advance. Using graph paper and small cutouts of your furniture, rearrange the space in a variety of layouts. Space-planning professionals suggest you keep these things in mind:
Flow of your paperwork
Placement of equipment for easy access
Appropriate aisles for safety
Positive appearance
Think about what furniture you want, need, and don't require. If you need more shelving space, consider a taller floor unit or pulling shelves off the ground and building them onto the walls. As you configure your furniture, think in terms of safety. That may mean anchoring items.

 Tip 4: Consider What Office Supplies You Need
Do you like baskets or bins? Might a rolling file work for your space? There are a lot of useful office gadgets that you can research just by looking for an office-products catalog or website. Consider reviewing what is available to see how you might streamline your space.
Also, rethink how many pens, paperclips, notepads, and other items you actually use in one day. Consider storing most of them in a drawer or desk organizer, rather than scattering them all across your desk.

Tip 5: Arrange Your Desktop to Be Practical
Carefully consider what you really need on your desktop. It should only contain essentials, such as a computer, telephone, notepaper, pen, stapler, and your current work assignment. If you need a calendar, get one for the wall or schedule your commitments electronically. Hang all of your photos up, instead of showcasing them on your desk and countertops. Keep paperwork and files in drawers, instead of stacking them on your desk. Put reading material in a magazine rack.

Tip 6: Eliminate Reasons for Coworkers to Enter Your Workspace
If you have coworkers who like to "drop things off" and then hang around to chat, consider moving your inbox. Arrange a hanging file holder outside of your cubicle or an inbox on the cabinet outside of your office door. This way, passersby can drop off their deliveries without disturbing you.

Tip 7: Notify Coworkers of Your Needs
No matter how well you arrange your workspace, there is likely to be a coworker who will want to drop by to chat anyway. If you're working on a project that requires a lot of focus, consider placing a "Please Do Not Disturb" sign on your outside cubicle wall. You may even want to get one that allows you to indicate a time when you'll be available.

Finally, as you consider how your space should look, make sure you always have an exit route. That way, you can excuse yourself and take that much-needed break before someone interrupts you!