by Cara Lumen
I love working at home. I get to set my own rhythm. I take a break when I need one, go for a walk or read a bit whenever I need a change. It’s my call. And it’s also my call about how well I arrange for my office space to support my creativity, my concentration, and my effectiveness.
1 – Organize your clutter
It is way too easy to put off putting something away. I even have a basket that I put things in that I want for reference as I write. It would probably be a good idea for me to put that in some order and maybe next time I go searching for something in it I will, but it is in one place – a basket. Order is good. I have a great shelf to put things on at my desk but my cats Sebastian and Sabrina like to lie there, so I’ve made another plan. Their company is supportive and nurturing and they are an integral part of my home office. I have labeled folders within reach to place the paid bills. I bank on line and set up my bill payments the minute I receive a bill. I have the papers I use during the day handy – all my passwords, a calendar, phone numbers I use a lot. They are in a pretty napkin holder on my desk and don’t take up much space while staying within easy reach.
But here’s a trick I learned a long time ago when I worked in a regular business office. Each day before you leave spend the last five minutes organizing yourself for the next day, putting things away, making a short list of what you need to do next. That way when you come in you know exactly where to start and you have a tidy space to get started right away.
2 – Acknowledge your successes
I created an acknowledgement/tracking system for myself in which I write the things I feel good about accomplishing. I don’t necessarily do it every day but I like to do it at the end of the week and if something really great gets done I’ll write in it at the time. This Magnetic Momentum Builder is my version of the 5:15 report also lets me track and acknowledge my forward progress
3 – Bless your work
I used to do temp work so I’d go into a company where I knew no one. And I would bless the pieces of paper I was preparing. It was fun to wonder how many people would handle that piece of paper and unknowingly receive the positive energy I sent along.
When I am waiting for my radio show Passionately On Purpose to begin, I look out my window and the great nature view I have and bless the words I am about to speak and the intention behind what I am about to present. I fill my thoughts with loving energy to go with what I offer.
I hadn’t thought to do that with these posts, but I will starting right now. As you post an article or a blog post or begin to give a telecourse, center yourself and align your thoughts with the people you hope are touched by what you offer. And they will be.
4 – Listen to your inner wisdom
The beautiful thing about working at home is that when a creative idea shows up you can simply make it happen. I was thinking up ideas for my radio show when I realized that particular topic would make a good post so I started writing and here it is in post format. And elements of it will be a future radio show. Now that I’ve begun to do interviews on my show all sorts of related ideas are showing up and I’m hard pressed to keep track of them all. But the trick is to put your ideas all in one place. I now have a folder called “Idea Bank” in which I keep all those things I think up to do or create. Those ideas you get – they may or may not be yours to do but if you choose to act on them then you definitely are the chosen one for that idea.
Watch for signs. Whether it’s an email from a friend with something in that sparks an idea, or you read a phrase in a book that would be translated into what you do, or you’re just sitting there and the idea comes in – those are yours to at least capture and think about doing.
5 – Create meaningful scenarios
Can you look up from your computer and see something you like? I can look up and see a plant I love doing it’s thing in a corner or a lithograph of an old typewriter I’ve had in my office for years as a symbol of my being a writer, a Treasure Map I made of my intentions years ago that still holds true, and my cats curled up in a nearby chair. Surround yourself with things you like to look at and be with. That’s another reason to keep your working space organized so you have space for your treasures. Stop and admire the small scenarios of meaningful items you have created.
They don’t call it “home” office for nothing – you spend a lot of time there. Honor yourself by making it visually pleasing and organized in support of what you do. Periodically schedule a put-away morning and tidy up every corner of your space. Love your office. It reflects who you are and what you are thinking. It should be nourishing and welcoming. Fill your home office with inspiration and it will support your creativity, your concentration, and your effectiveness
© 2010 Cara Lumen