Have you ever sat down to work and been so distracted by everything around you that you just couldn't clear your brain and focus on the one task at hand?
Have you ever tried to start a specific project but couldn't find the tools or resources you needed, and ended up wasting time and energy looking for the necessary supplies instead of progressing on with your project?
If you've had trouble focusing, being productive, or fostering your creativity, I'd highly suggest taking a look at your surrounding spaces — they can have a bigger impact on your productivity and over-all outlook on life than you might realize.
This is true in your work life AND your home life.
For example, if you take a few minutes before you leave the office to declutter your workspace, file that pile of paperwork, answer your voicemails, and make a to-do list for the next morning, I guarantee you'll be MUCH more productive when you sit down to work the next morning. You won't have to deal with the clutter, you won't have to wonder what to do first, and you won't be as easily distracted by the STUFF around you.
Similarly, if you take a few minutes to pick up the clothes in your bedroom, put that last load of laundry away, fill the dishwasher, and pack your lunch, you'll be SO much more productive the next morning — not to mention less rushed, less stressed, and less frazzled by unexpected issues that might arise.
If you think I'm crazy, just try it for yourself.
Try doing a quick purge of your files, your emails, your voicemails, and any other cluttered areas in your office and see how much "lighter" you feel.
Try removing everything from your desktop except the absolute essentials and see how much less stressed you feel.
Try clearing anything unnecessary from your schedule and see how much more creative you feel.
Your space matters!
The fact of the matter is that your space has a huge affect on your productivity, creativity, and over-all mood while at work (or at home).
And if you really stop and think about it, getting and keeping your space relatively clear and clutter-free really is NOT that difficult. With a few minutes here and a few minutes there, you can easily keep your work space neat, clean, and clutter-free.
Yes, you'll end up spending a few extra minutes cleaning and organizing, but I'm positive you'll end up saving much more time in the long run — plus, you'll be less stressed, more productive, and more creative.
I'd say that's a pretty good trade-off!