Motivated Workspace. Motivated You.

No doubt about it, the right environment can make and break some people.

For me, if I get a good amount of natural sunlight in then I simply feel better about everything and I have more energy. Likewise, what happens when you lie in bed to "work"? Chances are that environment turns most people into a casual worker at best.

This is a good topic! It's often overlooked.

Definitely. Bed is no place to do work! Natural sunlight and plants, seems like blending the eco with the habitat makes for productive work. I find merely cleaning clutter and creating a work environment where accruing clutter is impossible (I.E. small desk, no filing cabinets, no drawers) forces you to deal with clutter immediately instead of letting it build up!

There's a great section on LifeHacker with user submitted workspaces... great ideas!

featuredworkspace - Lifehacker

-Amy

Great Job on accomplishing a work room Amy.

I was just thinking about this today. We live in a small 2brm house and the computer area is a laptop and printer on a study desk surrounded by toy mess and stuff the baby has "played" with.

I don't think that is helping with motivation to do my work when i sit down at the laptop and I was just thinking this morning that something has to change, I think I will need to clean the area and barricade it off from the munchkin, but wow the motivation to do it has gone Everytime I look at the floor. Maybe a little in the morning and the rest in the afternoon.

Yes, i am absolutely crazy that way. I NEED an extremely clean, organized office or I go crazy. Wish I wasnt that way but I am.

Some things I do.

1. I have 3 whiteboards. I am fascinated with these. Great for jotting ideas, plans, goals, everything. If you are in the middle of working and think of something. BAM write it down quickly and come back to it later so you dont lose focus on the orginal task.

2. I have no papers on my desk unless I am using them at that moment or in the near future (within next hour).

3. Have goals written visible when looking at the monitor. Constantly reminded of those damn ambitious goals haha.

4. I have plants as well.

5. Couch. Brainstorming or meditation sessions happen on big fluffy couches. They are like 10 years old but so darn comfy.

now that i've solidifed myself as a weirdo, maybe some of these will help you

I'm kind of like Kenster. I have to be organized but I do it in a different way....

1. I have about 10 notebooks for notes...all on different subjects. Developing Awareness and recognizing parallels, Success, Releasing, business ideas, random thoughts(these turn into pages and do me no good later on...however, I've tended to notice that this is my way of recognizing parallels and connecting the two ideas...that's the only way we learn and the only way we develop), product creation etc. I add on a notebook or two a month.

2. I mind map...I wander a great deal so I have to look at the overall picture and work within that frame. Mind mapping helps me keep me within my intended work space.

3. I clean my workspace when I realize

4. This is kind of strange but I engage in whole thinking...this helps me get an overall picture things and to work in a consistent cycle rather than changing and reacting to current cycles. It does wonders for me.

5. Once again a little weird from an outsider perspective but my morning rituals determine the productivity of my day...I have a specific morning ritual of Yoga, Breathing, meditation, shower, and eat....if I get this taken care of, I rock out for the day....when I don't my day usually doesn't go far

I'm thinking I want plants now though

I thin experimentation works best. Find out what works and stick with it/improve upon it. I recently bailed on all my hard copies of papers because I found myself saving stuff that 95% of the time I would never go back to. I now use a digital camera and take a photo of each document and file it digitally accordingly. No paper = no clutter = Productive Amy. (Kind of has a "Shining" ring to it?)

Plants are a great way as well to keep productive for me as I stated before because it gives a different, cleaner feeling to the room and the air. Almost like walking into a new part of my house, a separate part that I can distinguish in my mind as my "work area."

Only thing I'd like to change is more sunlight, right now It's suffering with one small window, which reduces the type of plants I can have. Ideally I'd love a desk surrounded by a jungle of plants and natural light. Oh well next house!

P.S. I love the idea with whiteboards everywhere. I've been thinking about it and this has put me over the top to go out and get some big ole whiteboards for the room!

-Amy

That's a brilliant idea from where I'm at...thanks Amy..I took notes on the comp for a while but writing it out sticks better for me...I'm definitely going to start uploading my files though...it's a lot easier to manage and locate...I love it.

Grr...tell me about it! I'm livin in a basement right now When I get the chance I'm going to infest my room with plants...I'm goin zen! Curious...you talk about it a lot...what does zen mean to you personally?

Ya, kenster's full of great ideas..I always pay attention to what he has to say.