Sort your workspace

How does your workspace look? Is it tidy and neat, or a teetering pile of books and paperwork? Is everything you need in good order and easily available, or are you continually stopping work and losing focus because you’re searching for missed items? Maybe you have more than one workspace, or work out of a rucksack? Perhaps everything you need lives on your laptop or phone? Has home or hybrid working brought more challenges – and more to keep track of? Maybe work and home are now blurred, or alternatively you’re regularly travelling between home and work – in either case is that something you appreciate or resent?

However – and wherever – you work it’s useful to have a clear out; including if most of your work is currently happening online and/or from a home ‘office’.

But you may find this arduous, especially if you are someone that:

• struggles with getting started with tasks
• finds demands challenging
• has ‘doom piles’ (things that should have a place, but end up dumped where you’re endlessly reminded of and stressed by them)
• hates clutter but really struggles to keep things organised
• frequently forgets things
• is required to work out of multiple spaces and remember what is where
• doesn’t know how to clean and/or has no idea where to begin
• is responsible for your own or other people’s materials, tools, equipment, or general workspaces
• lives with others who may also affect your work space and/or create mess
• would love a cleaning routine but can’t seem to stick to one
• manages to keep on top of everyone else’s needs, but neglects your own
• is overloaded with so many tasks that tidying and cleaning feel like one more chore
• can keep things clean and tidy, but then lacks the time and energy for work or other tasks (or vice versa)
• is peri/menopausal, neurodivergent, chronically sick, has mobility issues, mental health problems (including hoarding), or are otherwise disabled that would make starting, completing, or generally undertaking tasks a challenge and/or worsen existing conditions
• is living in a housing situation where there are structural problems, disrepair, or other issues that affect your health and comfort (and may be beyond your ability to fix)
• feels shame, irritation, or exhaustion (or all three and more); or are put under pressure from others because of the above

If you’ve had a particularly busy time last year, or if you feel things are on top of you, then you may want to take the next couple of days (or another time you set) to de-clutter and organise. You can make it more bearable by listening to music, or some of your favourite podcasts. If you struggle to get started, using a guide or planner (see below) can help. As can having a friend or family member you trust to work alongside you (you can always return the favour). Keep your phone or a notebook with you just in case you’re struck by research inspiration while you’re in the middle of dusting – I’ve had some of my best ideas when cleaning out the oven or scrubbing the bath!

Remember, today’s task is about focusing on your workspace, it is not an instruction to clean your entire house in 24 hours or less! Keep your attention on your workspace only and within that, narrow down specific tasks that need doing to help you feel more organised. The goal is to ascertain what needs sorting and make a start on that (if time permits). That way you’ll feel like you’re making progress and won’t be discouraged by overreaching or starting something that makes things even more messy.

What decluttering and tidying tasks might you try?

There may be a long list of tasks in your head that may already be putting you off attempting this task, but you could begin by writing those down and noting what’s feasible, what’s related to your workspace, what are bigger tasks for the rest of your home (and best scheduled for another day), and where you may need additional assistance or equipment.

Some people find it useful to sit quietly and make notes of what is needed. Others prefer to sit in their workspace, office, or with their work materials and use those to jog their memory. It might be you combine list taking with tidying – for example going through your work bag and throwing out rubbish, noting where stationery needs replacing, and returning books to the shelves.

Be alert as you do this that the planning doesn’t distract you from what should be an initially straightforward task of noting how to tidy your workspace. Or that you don’t start with a plan, go to put those books back on the shelf, start reading another book, then remember the tidying but start elsewhere in the home, leaving your work bag or other work space you were focused on in an even bigger mess (that would be me!). In such cases it may be better to make a short list of two or three things, do those, then move on. This may also help if longer lists become overwhelming or demotivating.

Below are some areas you could focus on, which may help generate more specific ideas suited to your circumstances.

• sorting through your computer to ensure all your folders are up to date, with the right stuff in the right places, and any duplicates or no-longer-useful documents archived or deleted; with pending tasks clearly indicated. Be aware this might take much longer than a couple of days and it’s okay to schedule this across the coming weeks as something you do for a short time each day until everything is more organised
• if you have any work that needs filing (on or offline) you could sort this now, or make a note of what needs organising and manage that in the next few days/weeks. A checklist of what needs tidying that you can tick off brings order and can feel very satisfying
• if you have a dedicated workspace, go through this identifying what needs recycling, shredding, recycling, or throwing away
• if you mostly work out of a rucksack then empty your bag, throw away any rubbish, recycle old paperwork, and ensure it’s only got the essentials you need inside it (this might be worth doing if you last checked your bags several months ago!)
• books, folders and files can be put back into their correct places (particularly if you have a home office and work has ‘spread’ all over the house)
• you might want to review if everything is where you need it (and make a note if you make any changes so this time next week you won’t be hunting around for essential information)
• or those working at home who don’t have a dedicated work space you may want to create an area where you can work comfortably, including noting your background, lighting and comfort if you’ll be based there for most of the day or evening
• if you can spot any quick wins or visually impactful tasks, do those to get you started. For example, you might spend a lot of time picking things up, but a kitchen counter full of dishes or an unmade bed might leave you feeling defeated. Making a bed and stacking and running the dishwasher, or washing the dishes, might be more motivating to then tackle the smaller, necessary tasks that aren’t as immediately obvious (some of the guides listed below explain how to do this in more detail)
• if you wear a uniform for work, or just have different outfits for different jobs you can go through your closet and work out what things are torn and need mending, what can go to the charity shop, and if there are any new items you need to buy or save for
• if your office has a cleaner they’ll be able to work more effectively if you’ve tidied up. But you may still want to clean any equipment you use (computers, laptops etc) and wipe down, dust and hoover your workspace

You may already follow a tidying and cleaning system, if so please recommend who or what helps you keep on top of clutter in the comments below. Resources and guides (particularly those that are suited to those who’re chronically sick, disabled, or are parents/carers) are especially welcome.

If you want to share your before and after cleaning pics (so long as they don’t contain any research-identifying or other confidential information) post on Bluesky, Threads or LinkedIn using the hashtag #ResearcherRenew. Remember there’s no obligation to do this, although some people do find taking photos of their workspaces or wider homes helpful when cleaned as an incentive to maintain this (or a reminder to do so again). A visual calendar, cleaning lists of what you need to do within each room, and alerts can all help those of us who go through cycles of clean then messy but struggle to maintain a manageable level of order.

Guides other people have recommended (some of which I’ve also tried) include:
Marie Kondo
Apartment Therapy by Maxwell Ryan (this also has a ‘January Cure’ that takes you on easy to follow daily tasks you might find achievable).
The Home Edit
Everything You Need To Completely Clean With ADHD by René Brooks
Tips for cleaning and de-cluttering with ADHD by Judith Kolberg
How to do laundry when you’re depressed and How to keep house while drowning by KC Davis
Unf*ck your habitat: you’re better than your mess by Rachel Hoffman
A pragmatic approach to chronic disorganisation and hoarding by Linday Fay
Helping yourself with hoarding by the mental health charity Mind

You can also find a number of ready-made planners for household/housework management online, alongside apps to help you keep track of chores; plus adapted household cleaning aids and gadgets that may ensure cleaning and tidying is more accessible to your needs.

These guides are more about whole home management, but do have advice for specific areas (your workspace) and you may find their stepwise approaches helpful for other areas of your home if that remains a point of struggle for you. If you don’t want to read a book or use a planner here’s a shorter, stepwise guide outlined in this piece from Better Homes and Gardens you may find useful.

If you found this difficult

If you’re overwhelmed at work or home with clutter you may not know how to sort it, and may also feel embarrassed or ashamed. Other people’s comments might have exacerbated this. As may seeing endless updates on social media of other people’s perfect homes or workspaces.

This task may have reminded you that keeping things in order is either beyond you right now, for reasons that will pass but are currently outside of your control (in which case you can practice letting this go without blaming yourself). Or it might be a sign that you cannot do all the things. We often hold ourselves accountable for things that are simply beyond our control. This task, particularly if you’re noting what needs doing (and who is doing it), may reveal to you inequalities in your home or shared workspace that need attending to before you take on an unfair share of labour. Alternatively, you may have identified that health issues, executive functioning problems, or other barriers mean you cannot do this by yourself and additional assistance from friends or family members, paid for help, or social care is necessary.

As mentioned, if you have a friend or colleague that might help you this could be a good way to feel more in control at the start of the year. They can clean or tidy alongside you, be there for company, or take on additional jobs that help (e.g. bring a meal or take care of your children while you clean). Not everyone has the budget for a cleaner, but if you do this could be a bonus (and it’s possible to hire cleaners as a one-off job if you need assistance to get your home or work space feeling more liveable). If you are struggling with chronic illness, are a carer, disabled, or have executive functioning problems then one of your accommodations could be help with cleaning or tidying. Within your workplace, if you are being pressed to take on tasks that you’re unable to manage, Occupational Health or your union may be able to advise.

If you can build in time to get on top of your work it will pay off as you’ll know what needs doing, you’ll be able to throw out what isn’t needed (physically or metaphorically), and feel less anxious and guilty. Remember if this task is a big ask for you to build in reward times so you recognise what you’re managing. And also note that keeping your research and workspaces tidy and organised is part of a researcher’s job. It is still necessary work. That doesn’t mean you’re bad if you’re not managing this (among all the other things you’re required to do), it means that you should have support, time and resources to achieve this. Keeping research spaces clean and tidy is never taught and is a very much forgotten skill, historically because those in academic roles had someone else to do this work for them.

Next steps

Having tidied some or all of your workspace you might want to decorate it with flowers, photos, art work, certificates or positive images or messages. Looking back to the previous activity where you celebrated your achievements there may be some key moments from the past year you want to remember. Or perhaps introduce a space on your wall where you record each month what is going well or what you have to look forward to.

If you work from home have somewhere to relax, feel comfortable and enjoy your downtime is essential. It might be a separate room or the corner of your bedroom/office etc. Here you might keep books, an ornament or plant, a blanket, and a space to have a drink and snack. We will revisit this later in the month. In many cases it is better to have somewhere you’re comfortable to retreat to and take things slowly and in sections rather than trying to do everything at once, making more of a mess, and feeling unhappy or unwell as a consequence.

Before you finish this task, grab your diary or planner and block out a half or full day per month where you can do a quick clean up (or have someone assist with this), or schedule a small amount of time per day for this task – preventing a backlog of mess that overwhelms you. Some people find, having created a tidy workspace, they maintain this with a daily tidy up before they leave their workspace and a weekly check around to ensure everything is kept in order.

Remember this is NOT a task that can be done as quick one-off. Today’s activity is designed to get you thinking of how to live more comfortably without adding to your stress levels and you should pace yourself over time to schedule tidying and cleaning into your life as and when you feel able to do so.