Want to boost your mental health? Try cleaning your desk. Seriously, a pile of disorganized papers can trick your mind into thinking it’s an unmanageable workload. This can increase stress and anxiety, and decrease motivation.
In the upcoming book Joy at Work, New York Times Bestselling Author Marie Kondo joins forces with organizational psychologist Scott Sonenshein to bring Kondo’s popular KonMari method into your workspace. Similar to her previous books and Netflix series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” which focus on home organization, Joy at Work devotes its pages to helping you achieve harmony and productivity at work.
“This book offers stories, studies and strategies to help you eliminate clutter and make space for work that really matters,” Kondo shared on Instagram. In short, it’s a step-by-step plan to create an organizational workflow by clearing your desk of momentum-halting clutter, managing emails and unleashing your productivity in an open workspace.
Joy at Work releases this spring, but we have a sneak peak of key takeaways. While organizing your desk, make your goal to keep only what is necessary: your computer, monitor and mouse. And tuck away loose cords in a drawer or visually appealing pouches or bags. But not everything has to go. Kondo suggests keeping a small vase or photo that brings you joy. She also recommends aromatherapy via a diffuser with a scent everyone agrees on to engage the senses and rejuvenate. There’s even a chapter encouraging employers to implement “Tidying Festivals,” where an entire day is devoted to reorganizing personal and overall office space. The intended result is a clear mind, improved efficiency and less stress.
Curious to learn more? Joy at Work will be available April 7 here.