How To Create An Inspiring Workspace
Monday blues are hard to get by. As you stumble down the corridor of your home on a fresh morning, juggling through your files, making a mental list of to-dos, you realise that the inertia of rest has caught up with your system. Life, it’s funny like that.
You look at the puddle in your front yard, imagine the traffic you have to maze through, think of the emissions you have to inhale, and then you look at your home… It’s a portrait of serenity, all nice and cosy.
You wonder what you would not trade for owning the comfort of working from your home. How you wish you could simply throw the office etiquette into the dustbin, find your laptop, and revel in the pleasures of your home environment. It might just be the boost your creativity craves for. But then you look around, and you see the problem ~ it’s your workspace.
The walls of your home office are probably screaming for a coat of paint, the ergonomics of your table is virtually non-existent, books lie in disarray ~ its total glum chum. Now you think that you have a good reason to be at your office. But what if I tell you that you can create the work-space of Pinterest dreams while ensuring that your budget is not too strained? The kind of space you would love working in and the kind of area that would inspire your deepest creativity and focus. Don’t believe me? Read on for my tips on how to create an inspiring workspace!
Pick Your Spot Carefully
Be careful what you wish for. Your workspace should be a world aloof from distractions. It’s not a place to flaunt; it’s to work. So, choose an area that doesn’t get frequented by your family members and also provides you with some privacy to work through your thoughts. Preferably, it should be where digital media noises cannot breach, or else you might find yourself going after your grandma watching soap operas!
Now, For The Furniture
This is where your choice should reflect function over style. It’s easy to get lured by the expanse of furniture choices beckoning you, but don’t surrender to the trap of chasing something expensive. Yes, you don’t need that cocobolo. A sturdy desk and a comfortable chair would serve. If the former comes with a drawer, it’s an added advantage since inbuilt storage can be handy in keeping things organised and clutter-free. For the chair, make sure you take into account factors like the presence of an armrest, lumbar support, under-thigh support, etc. For if you get your posture wrong, your work will invariably suffer.
Then Cater To Your Nose
The importance of fragrance is probably the most overlooked factor when it comes to setting up your workspace. You won’t believe the wonders it can do. For instance, Rosemary helps in thinking, concentration, and memory. While peppermint can help you focus. These are findings backed by research. Even fragrance sticks or room diffusers would do the job. Just ensure you are setting the intensity of the scent to your preferences.
A Bit Of Green And Lots Of Yellow
Lighting plays a significant role in affecting your mood and your productivity. So it’s time to get the lights right. I wouldn’t recommend mood lighting for a professional workspace. Prudence dictates that you should take advantage of natural light. It would help enormously if you have a large window close to your worktable. Once the sun sets, you can migrate to a warm, yellow light so it does not interfere with your sleep, especially since good REM sleep is crucial for sustaining creativity over time.
The latest studies reveal that the presence of plants can reduce your stress levels while boosting your creativity. Therefore, it would be a good idea to have some indoor plants to liven up your mood and breathe life into your workspace. Just make sure that your fauna are not too demanding, or else watering would take up a share of your precious time. Small cacti, succulents, and terrariums are perfect for even the not-so-green thumb among us.
Hang Them, Paste Them
It’s your personal space, and you can pepper it with visual aids that help you stay afoot. Some of you might prefer the neat and tidy look of walls, but walls serve as a gentle reminder for many. Be it pinboards to create collages, or cork boards to make mood boards, or pictures of your loved ones, or motivational quotes to help keep you inspired throughout the day; it’s a good idea to surround yourself with positivity. Paste them or frame them. That way you can ensure you are never losing sight of your goals.
The Most Important Rule
You know best about what works for you. You can, therefore, ensure that your workspace is a reflection of you, in every sense. Use your better judgment to choose the right props you need around you. But there is one rule that should never be broken ~ eliminate everything from your sight, which is causing you stress and distraction. You’ll be much more productive and feel relaxed in a space with minimal clutter; tidy desk = tidy mind.
To conclude: Whatever your area of expertise, you need a dedicated space to work from; it’s where ideas are born, and it’s where you will make important decisions about your work life. Having an inspirational workspace will additionally aid your creativity and thinking. It might take you a day or two to set up your space, but once you do, you will find it to be an investment for a lifetime!
If you haven’t yet thought about your home office, now is the time. Or do you have any exciting ideas to share on creating a great workspace? Post your comments below and let me know!