By : Mr. Haniff bin Abdullah Hashim _^K.B.;P.A.

On average, a person spends 30% of their waking hours (not including sleep) at work. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the workplace environment plays a crucial role in ensuring employees' emotional well-being. To ensure that the workplace environment supports mental health, individuals can start with their own workspace. Here are steps to create a therapeutic work environment:

1) Envision Your Ideal Workspace

Before you begin organizing, decluttering, or rearranging, imagine what a therapeutic workspace looks like for you. If needed, sketch a simple plan; it doesn’t have to be architecturally detailed—just something you can understand. This plan is essential to accommodate your potentially limited workspace. It’s okay if your ideas change later; this is just the initial step. The key element at this stage is to select one or two items that inspire you while working, such as family photos, scenic images, live plants, or tickets to memorable events.

2) Decide What to Keep and What to Discard

This second step can be challenging, as some individuals find it hard to let go of items. Consequently, workspaces often become cluttered with unused or forgotten items. Take your time with this step. Sort items into categories, such as stationery, personal items, headphones, books, etc. Choose a maximum of two items from each category, like two black pens, one red pen, one ruler, and so on. Ensure the items you keep are necessary; if you're unsure when you'll use something, set it aside elsewhere (if possible) rather than keeping it in your workspace. If there’s no other place for it, consider discarding it, especially if it hasn’t been used in a long time.

3) Create an Atmosphere for Focus

This third step relates to the first one. Refer back to your plan and ask yourself: What is your goal in rearranging your workspace? The answer should be to achieve peace and focus on your work. Check if the layout you plan to create will meet your objectives. If not, feel free to adjust it. Ensure your layout is realistic, within your budget, and doesn’t require high maintenance costs or time. We want to avoid maintenance issues causing you stress in the future. Examples of high-maintenance items include live plants, aquariums, and terrariums. Remember, you won’t always be in your workspace; there will be times you’re on leave, sick, or working outside. You don’t want to burden your coworkers with maintenance tasks for you.

4) Make Gradual Changes

Implement the steps mentioned gradually, without disrupting your actual work. Divide the process into several parts. For example, focus on organizing your drawer this week, rearranging your desk items in two weeks, and next month, focus on shelves, and so on. You’ll feel more satisfied when you can realize your initial plan. After some time with the same layout, revisit the first step to achieve a different environment. Don’t worry if you’re not someone who enjoys organizing; this task can also be a way to refresh your mind from assignments. If you spend time browsing social media, why not use that time to organize your workspace instead?

5) Share Your Experience with Coworkers

One of the joys of having an organized workspace is sharing your feelings with other coworkers. You can discuss how changing your work environment has impacted you and possibly seek their opinions on elements that could make the workspace more conducive.

Date of Input: 30/09/2024 | Updated: 30/09/2024 | ayna