Personal Disorder … or … Too Much Time on My Hands

This goes back … way back. I remember doing this for decades. When I worked for a Jewelers, a major chain, I was doing a smaller version of this all the time. I moved a lot … switching apartments, College dorms, relocating areas of Dallas (and that could take one 50 miles from north to south, and so much more. Was I suffering from a space allotment disorder way back then? Can I blame my parents for we also moved a lot when I was a child? Is it boredom? Looking for change? or merely trying to do something new and better?

To what am I referring? I pretty regularly change my office around … desk to opposite sides, realigning books on the shelves, taking advantage of furniture no longer used elsewhere in the facility and I imaginatively find a place to use said furniture. What is my problem? Do I have a psychotic disorder because my mind is not organized so I try to fake organization in my work space?

I am pretty psychotic, but I don’t think that is it. I find it relaxing to move stuff around. I find it a great time to think, to ponder, to use my imagination for moving the organization forward too. Is that psychotic?

Today, I moved the desk from east to west and some shelves from west to east. I doubled the storage space behind the shelves. I freed up the space for ‘flow’. And I cleaned up the shelves … more junk is stashed, more widgets have a better resting spot, and no loss of meeting space took place. I think I even did better with use of lighting – natural and fluorescent.

I looked up various hints to reorganizing a work space. Here are some clues …

• Prioritize Workflow (meetings that happen, greeting visitors, access to books, better use of storage space
• Take into consideration desk placement, technological requirements, walkways, enhance communication. (on the communication point, I no longer have line of sight to my EA, she like that but I will have to yell louder)
• Better use of lighting – and add variety
• Enhance conference meeting (I have a single, farm style table that is great for small meetings and space to spread out chairs for larger ones)
• Make it personal … which I do with toys, props, stuffed animals, Snoopy paraphernalia, pics, etc.
• Establish a trial period – be willing to change back or change up
• Put yourself in visitors’ shoes
• Clear the Clutter – and boy do I have clutter

In the words of the master of work and work ethic …

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” 
Mary Poppins

So, I don’t know if you need some rearranging in your life. Don’t put it off. Maybe it is a clue you need some time away … and if that is the case … head to the mountains. You can never go wrong in the mountains.

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Header photo … new head of HR, I am in trouble.