Photo by Hristo Sahatchiev: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-trench-coat-on-wooden-rack-821357/
Anyone that has worked at a desk for a prolonged period of time, at home or in the office, knows how their immediate environment can affect their daily wellbeing. Perhaps you have a picture of your family there reminding you of what it’s all for, or an ergonomic setup to help contend with difficulties such as arthritis.
At home, we have more opportunities to decorate our space to our own tastes, but either way, the principle of perfecting this area within your own requirements is a good one. How you do that, of course, is up to you. We would say that not attending to this space can be a problem. Too busy and unkempt a desk will generally make us feel worse, and less focused on our tasks at hand.
But why is this the case? And how do you avoid the creeping addition of stuff that even a disciplined lifestyle can bring? In this post, we’ll discuss that, while also making some suggestions for how to bring clarity, aesthetical value, and purpose to your desk area:
Flowers & Nature
Having something alive and green on your desk helps even the most boring tasks and hours spent at a screen you’re tired of feel less sterile, though keeping real plants healthy might not be as easy, depending on how many you have or your desk. You might forget to water them, or they could struggle with the artificial lighting that most home offices have.
Artificial flowers give you a natural touch, but they won’t die if you ignore them for weeks. A small arrangement can brighten up your workspace and give your eyes something pleasant to look at when you need a break from staring at screens all day, and you can always balance them with usual flowers. Though if you need to go for business trips quite often, they can be great as a low maintenance alternative.
Organization
If you ever sit down to work and realize you can’t find anything you need because there’s stuff everywhere covering your desk surface, it can feel annoying. However, what’s worse is that because most of our resources are digital now, you may not have experienced a reason to clean it up this month or year even. That’s why making sure you do is so important..
You could try setting up simple systems where everything has a designated spot. A few small containers or drawer organizers is wise, and help keep supplies corralled so your desk surface stays mostly clear for the work you’re actually trying to do. Or on Monday morning, you can always give the space a clear wipe-down.
Good Lighting
Overhead fluorescent lights or dim table lamps can make your workspace feel dreary and strain your eyes during long work sessions, which isn’t great for your eyesight. Of course, natural light from a window helps but that’s not always an option depending on where your desk is positioned in your home.
A decent desk lamp with adjustable brightness can make your whole setup reduce any eye strain you’d otherwise have, and it has the bonus of helping you stay focused. Some people like warmer light for evening work or cooler tones during the day, so finding what works for your schedule makes a difference in how your workspace feels, and some lights even aiuto-adjust too.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily have your desk influence your focus and mental wellbeing for the better.