Spring Cleaning Your Cubicle
The cubicle is your space at work, but its surfaces and office trash bins are usually the realm of professional office cleaning services. It really isn’t a space a lot of us take ownership of caring for, but that attitude might be holding back our productivity and feeling of engagement at the office.
“It’s really important to take ownership of your space, especially if you want to feel more powerful and fulfilled at work,” says Cecilia Moorcroft a clutter coach and IST practitioner at Space For Life, a company that helps people deal with their messes on both a practical and psychological level. “Luckily cubicles are small so it doesn’t take much to bring yourself into your space. A quick wipe of the desk, consciously setting up your work station and some personal symbols can make all the difference.”
The whole idea of spring cleaning is to create space for the light and air that returns to our physical spaces after the necessary creation of warmth that requires us to be close and cozy all winter long. According to Moorcroft, the first thing that often needs freshening up is our perspective of our spaces.
“I recommend walking out of your cubicle and walking back in and really looking at what’s there,” says Moorcroft. “It’s easy for us to stop seeing our space when we’re in it all the time. The far side comic you put up last summer was funny at the time, but do you even notice it anymore? Think of your cubicle as a little gallery, rotate your personal decorations to keep them fresh, it will help your space feel more vibrant and it will help you to feel more engaged at work.”
Your workspace should be about productivity, inspiration, and motivation!
And remember, too, that your workspace is not all about productivity. Inspiration and motivation should have a place in your space at work.
“It’s all about what inspires you, Moorcroft says. “If you love a minimal uncluttered space, then that’s your personal touch. If you want to be reminded of family and friends or your first baby while you’re at work, then having photos or mementos will bring warmth to your space.”
Even those of us who want to set clear boundaries between work life and personal life, may want to think about how their personalities need to express themselves from within the cubicle.
“If you’re not decorating your space because you don’t want to stay in the cubicle for long,” Moorcroft cautions, “remember that it’s often the places we never really move into where we stay the longest.”