My workspace is my little hub, a place to call my own, a place that I love to be. I absolutely love my work and I wanted my workspace to reflect this as well as boosting my productivity. Creating the perfect workspace for me became my passion project, especially after spending numerous hours on Pinterest admiring others people workspaces – I thought is about time that I created my own favourite place that I simply adore.
When creating my workspace at home, not only did I want it to be inspiring and beautiful, but it also needed to be a place where I knew I would get things done. I’m addicted to having a to-do list on the go because it keeps me organised, sane and productive. Knowing what my next task is and crossing off completed jobs is highly satisfying and keeps me motoring on until my day is complete.
Today I thought that I would share a couple of simple hacks that have helped make my workspace a place of productivity (well, most of the time!) and my happy place:
DESIGNATING A WORKSPACE
Having a space in your home or workplace that is designated for your work alone is a definitive and easy way to be more productive. Your brain will automatically realise that it’s time to get your head down and do some work. Before setting up my desk space, I used to work in front of the TV with my laptop on my lap, let’s just say that my mind wasn’t solely on the task at hand.
INVEST IN A COMFORTABLE CHAIR
Not only is having a supportive and comfortable chair good for your posture, but you’re more likely to get more work done because you’re happy sitting at your desk for long periods of time. Investing as much money as your budget allows into a decent office chair is definitely worth it. Since you spend so much time at your desk you might as well be comfortable.
KEEP NOTEBOOKS & STICKY NOTES TO HAND
Having a notebook or sticky notes close by is really helpful for jotting down ideas or tasks that need doing so that you don’t forget to do them. Keeping them handy so that you don’t have to rifle through your desk drawer makes them more accessible and saves time.
MAKE THE MOST OF ONLINE RESOURCES
It really is amazing what you can get online these days including things to help you stay organised and on track. Make the most of the free online daily schedulers, task managers and to-do lists to help keep your productive streak going.
PURCHASE SOME PRETTY STATIONERY
I’ll admit it, I’m a stationery whore and I just can’t help myself when I see a pretty notebook that has caught my eye. Call me crazy, but starting a fresh new notebook is exciting for me, a time to set new goals and make plans. Since I have a major stationery fetish, I always find that it makes me more focused and more happy working at my desk.
CREATE AN INSPIRATION BOARD
Inspiration or vision boards not only look great, but they are incredibly encouraging and motivational. Pinning or hanging beautiful quotes, postcards and images that have a special meaning around your desk can boost your productivity, creativity and help you stay focused on your goals. Over time, your goals will change and you can easily add and take away from your inspiration board to define where you are that point in time.
These are just some of the tricks that I have found has helped me become more productive while working, obviously they’re not going to work for everyone. As much as you may try sometimes, you’re not superhuman. Everyone has their limits and needs a break, even if you have created the best workspace to aid productivity in the world. Our brains need to rest and after a short or long break, you will feel refreshed and ready to hit the ground running again.
Loving your tips. Pretty stationery motivates s d inspires me to work.
I do love a pretty notebook too.
Purchasing pretty stationery sounds like a great way to motivate me! Unfortunately there isn’t enough space in my house for me to do this but we’re expanding soon and then I’ll be looking a reading/working nook!
Exciting! Fingers crossed you get a space for yourself soon.
I need to get a specific area to work in, as I have to admit I just do it from the sofa!
That used to be me, it’s very cosy working from the sofa.
I’ve read similar things like this before and it made me realise I don’t have a workspace, I carry my laptop wherever and just jot down notes if need be lol.
If it works for you then that’s great!
I love stationery too.A new notebook makes me very happy .Having an organized place is important for productivity. LikeD the quick reminders.
A new notebook is a great way to get motivated. I have a load that I’m yet to use.
God I’m terrible. I still sit on the sofa, TV on, staring out the window and on Facebook every 5 minutes :-p in my defense the only places I could work are bed, or up the dining room table which because it’s the wrong height for me is very difficult to sit at comfortably. I find though that the pomodoro timer technique helps me stay focused. When we move il try and carve out a work space. Perhaps we can have a desk in the spare room and il put some of this into practice 🙂
Ha! I can get easily distracted too, especially by social media. I have to hide my phone in the drawer to save me from myself.
Great tips Jemma. I’m amazed to find I’m already doing two of them – a dedicated space and a comfortable office chair. I really need to get back into lists. I used to be mega organised and lists were brilliant, but I’ve descended into chaos in recent years and really need to get sorted.
Yay! I can’t cope without a list though. Most of the time it doesn’t get done if it’s not on some kind of list.
I’m such a stationery nerd too – my other half jokes I’ve never met a notepad I don’t like!
Hahaha! Love that!
Great tips,my work place is our dining table as we don’t have room for me to have a special area. i do however keep organised with a blog planner.
I think the dining table can be a great place to work, especially if you don’t have the space.
I did have a lovely dedicated office, but that has now become the spare room as our old spare room is now the nursery. I am in the dining room now, which isn’t ideal but needs must.
Awww…but what a lovely thing to lose your office space for. 🙂
I agree with everything you said. It is quiet frustrating when I sit down to start any project and my surroundings are not convincing enough. Most of the times I leave my work and take a nap instead ????
Ha! Does the nap help?
I absolutely love the delivery of new stationary, especially if it has a planner or to do list with it x
You’ve got to love a delivery of new stationery!
I should really do this at some point – my workspace is just my sofa! Love your ideas for making a better one though!
Thank you. Glad you liked my ideas n this post.
Aw me and productivity. One minute we are friends and the next we are fighting lol. I like to take notes and create a schedule but it is hard as I also work full time .
Juggling blogging and a full time jo can be stressful at the best of times. Props to you!
I am so with you on this, I think it is so important to create the right space to work in – if only I took this advice onboard!
I agree, a dedicated space can work wonders, especially for productivity.
I am still working on finding a designated area as at the moment I using anything from my coffee table to my bed. I need to utilise your tips
Well if it works, why not!
I would love a proper workspace, mine consists of a sofa haha x
The sofa is a comfy workspace though.
I love a personal and unique workspace! I have an old desk, full of stationary and inspirational quotes on the wall above! 🙂
Ooh, your workspace sounds lovely!
I am so bad that I constantly work from my sofa and not in a designated work area. I really need to get out of this habit x
But, if it works for you then it’s not such a bad thing.
The stationery whore comment made me laugh. And I totally feel ya on the brand-new notebook and planner thing. It feels like a restart if you’ve been a lil’ less focused than usual. I am in dire need of an office share, currently sitting at an old-school dining room chair and it’s not doing great things for my back. Any suggestions as to where I can get a cute, budget-friendly one? Where did you get yours??
I’d love to have some space for an inspiration board, but unfortunately I’m working out of a borrowed space. *Sigh* Pinterest will have to suffice.
You can get some great chairs from eBay or IKEA for great prices. Pinterest is a great place for inspiration, love it!
I like these ideas. I get distracted very easily when I’m uncomfortable. I’d love to try putting up an inspiration board too.
I do love a good inspiration board too.
Since I started working at home, I am slowly building my office space. I love stationeries too. I love seeing designs and crafts as I work. So inspiring. 🙂
I do love working from home and designing my own space.
We are in the midst of decorating at the moment- I just got a new chair as my old one was not good for my back.
I hope the new chair is an improvement on the old one.
Pretty stationery is a must, I have an endless supply of it as I’m always picking it up! I also live by planners and to do lists xx
I agree with all of these tips. You’ve got to be comfy but you also need a variety of writing materials to help the creative juices to flow!
This is a great post, a good workspace is everything to me!
I can’t wait til I’ve got enough space to set up a dedicated workspace! Currently I’m working sat on my bed, which is far from ideal… I just want to nap all the time haha! You can’t beat new stationery for a bit of inspiriation and motivation 🙂
I’m hoping to start turning my spare room into a work room once I’m back from my holiday so these are great tips for me, thank you.
I adore these tips – hopefully they will give me the impetus to sort through all of the chaos that lives on my desk, and create something a little lovelier!
Such useful tips – I have a set out workspace and it made such a difference!
I love all these tips and hints – I am a stationery addict and have boxes full!
I need to get a more comfortable chair asap – puts me off sitting at my desk!
There are some brilliant tips here, especially the one about the stationary…. I am always on board with getting more pretty stationary! x
I’m getting a loft conversion at home soon so I hope I’ll be able to create my own space. Great tips!
Great tips! I love pretty stationary – depending on where you shop, this is a great way to get some new inspiration into your work space.
It’s funny how a notebook can make you more productive. It makes me want to use it more I guess and that means I’m planning more. Thanks for sharing.