Workspaces
Starting next month we will be having regular blog posts featuring the workspaces of the lilypad designers! I am really excited to see where so much creativity takes place. I have a copy of one issue of Where Women Create, and look through it regularly. I really enjoy seeing the personality and creativity of these women matched to the way they express themselves in their workspaces.
Whether your workspace is a small table with your computer on it or a full scrap room, here are a few tips on getting and keeping your space functional, organized and pretty.
POSITION
I know many of us don’t have a lot of choice as to where to position our workspaces. Ideally it should be somewhere without distraction, with good lighting and temperature. I personally do not like the idea of an office in the bedroom, as I think the bedroom should be a peaceful haven.
DECLUTTER
An honest evaluation of what you have in your space and get rid of what you don’t need or use.
• Does this item have a purpose? A three-hole punch obviously punches holes in paper, the important question is whether or not you actually need a big clunky device that punches holes in paper to get your work done.
• Is this item redundant? If it is redundant, is its function so critical that you must have a backup immediately on hand?
• Is it outdated? We know it’s hard to get rid of equipment you paid good money for, but unless you’ve got a real good reason to do so there isn’t any reason to keep old computer equipment around. We’re talking to you Mr. CRT-Stuffed-Behind-His-Desk-In-Case-the-LCD-Dies.
• Are you keeping it, not because you currently need it, but because you might? In most cases the hassle of storing, cleaning and maintaining an item for extended periods of time has a greater expense than finding that item should actually end up needing it in the future.
SUFFICIENT STORAGE SPACE
Sufficient storage space allows you to reduce visual clutter in your environment so you can stay focused on the task at hand.
Shelves that store your reference materials should be ideally within arms reach from your desk. Organisation consultant Julie Morgenstern states-
“The most common mistake I see in most offices is locating the file cabinet too far away from the desk. That’s why papers pile up on the desktop. If it’s inconvenient to file, you won’t”.
Be creative with storage items for a visual effect. Vintage items and thrift store finds can be functional and visually appealing.
ORGANIZING PAPERWORK
Having papers scattered around your home and office in various locations is a recipe for stress and procrastination. A good filing system is critical in the age of information overload.
So what constitutes a good filing system?
David Allen (author of the best seller “How to get things done”) says –
“You need to feel comfortable storing even a single piece of paper that you might want to refer to later, and your system must be informal and accessible enough that it’s a snap to file it away in your alphabetized general reference system, right at hand where you work”.
VISUALS TO INFORM AND INSPIRE
Again, be creative. Use your digi supplies and hybrid skills to make your own calendar page, cover a cheap journal with your favourite digi paper, print out some cute labels.
Get inspiration from the internet. Pinterest is a good source.
MAINTAIN IT!
The single most important thing you can do to be organized: Set aside ten minutes at the end of the day to clean your desk and get ready for tomorrow. Most people don’t do this because they don’t see an immediate payoff. It’s like exercise, at first it’s just a pain, but after a couple of weeks you can’t believe how great you feel.
