Oakland, CA:  Decluttered Office can really increase your physical health

This month we’re focusing on the relationship office organization and the business benefits, such as your health, creativity, productivity, and profitability. This week, we’re discussing how having a clean and organized office increases your health.

Health Benefits of a Decluttered Office

• Decluttering prevents you from getting sick.  We’re often so busy we do everything at our desk from eating our lunch to drinking coffee and taking notes. All these things build up dust and mold, and if we don’t clean, we could get sick.
• You won’t catch cold and flu bugs as often. These viruses can linger on unclean surfaces, such as keyboards, desks, and your computer for around 24 hours. You can boost your immunity by removing clutter and wiping down surfaces with a disinfectant. 
• You’ll lose less sick days since right now most employees lose nearly 10 sick days annually, many of which could have been prevented by better office hygiene.
• Clean and organized office spaces reduce stress. If your desk is covered in clutter or unfinished projects, your stress hormone, cortisol, often rises. If you’re overstressed, it often leads to other health issues, so taking even 15 minutes a day to declutter one part of your desk can lead to a happier, relaxed space.

How to Achieve a Decluttered Office 

• Put cleaning on your calendar so you know you’ll commit to it. Clean for 15 minutes every day before leaving. Aim to do a one to two hour deep cleaning session, where you thoroughly organize your desk area around once a month.
• Take an inventory of all the items you have. This will help you sort through what’s on your desk. You generally want to keep it as clutter-free as possible. Keep only your most used items, such as your pens in a cup, and some divider trays with documents.
• Explore options to maximize space. Consider digitalizing as many documents and photos as possible so you can move some papers to the files room and not your area. Consider getting an all-in-one printer and scanner and fax machine to save space near your desk.
• Clean all of your electronics, including your computer and keyboard daily. These all accumulate dust and dirt which could make you ill and affect the way the equipment runs.
• Keep your desk clean from now on. This means if you must eat lunch at your desk, you throw away wrappers, clean up the dishes, and wipe up the crumbs promptly.

These tips are just some of the ways you can declutter your office and achieve better health. If you need assistance, please contact Refresh Organizers and Designers at (510) 570-1292.