Creating a Work Environment to Enhance Productivity

One of the keys to productivity is having a space (or maybe several) that enables you to get stuff done. Since I started working from home permanently in November 2020, I have given a lot more thought to what that means for me. My primary workspace is a 30 x 65-inch desk in the corner of my living room—you might say, I have a corner office.

Most days, it’s okay. Some days, it’s less than ideal. Like on the days when my husband (the legal director for a nonprofit who works primarily from home) is on the phone a lot. Or when my dog is having a particularly barky day. On those days, I wish I had an office with a door. Instead, I pop in my headphones and play some mellow jazz to help me focus on my current writing or editing project.

Aside from limiting audible distractions, I also need to see some wood on my desk to write or edit effectively. Too much clutter is distracting and anxiety-producing. Beyond lowering my stress level, more desk space allows me to spread manuscripts out and make notes by hand. So here are a few things I am doing to gain a bit more real estate in my home office:

1. About a year ago, I purchased a low-profile monitor stand that allows me to tuck my laptop underneath it. Two things sold me on this stand. First, it has 4 USB ports (2 for data + power and 2 for power only). My MacBook Air has limited USB ports, so it is handy to have extra ports for an external camera or other peripherals. Second, it only raises the monitor about 2 inches. Unfortunately, most of the stands I looked at raised the monitor too far above my eye level. Having dealt with editing/writing-related neck strain in the past, I knew keeping my monitor at an appropriate height was a key to maintaining work productivity and physical health.

2. I have ordered a small rolling file cabinet to hold current editing projects. I like to do at least the initial read of a manuscript in hard copy, and I don’t have enough file storage in my desk to stash manuscripts that are in process. As a result, current projects end up stacked on the floor by the desk or piled on top of the printer. The cabinet will provide a better option for keeping manuscripts handy without cluttering my workspace. I may also stash my style manuals (APA and CMOS) in or on the cabinet, so they are accessible but off the desk.

3. I have a couple of bookcases near the corner office currently at overflow capacity. So, I’ve ordered a new bookcase to store my books for pleasure elsewhere in the house and make more space for reference books on writing and editing near my workspace. These books aren’t taking up space on my desk, but the piles forming around the living room are beginning to stress me out.

4. I have a wireless printer on my desk that everyone in the house uses. It’s currently on a Lucite stand that provides additional storage for paper and other supplies. I can’t lie, though. I’d love to find an unobtrusive (yet still accessible) spot for this that is not my desk.

My workspaces: (1) the corner office, (2) office set-up on the back porch, and (3) standing desk/co-work space.

My desk is my most productive workspace, and creating some additional space (even if it is just white space) will only enhance that. When I am working on a writing project, creating social media content, or completing developmental edits on a manuscript, I can spread physical notes and manuscript drafts in front of me and grab a style manual when I have a question. In addition, having access to the large monitor allows me to have two documents open side by side or do a quick Internet search to verify a fact or correct a citation.

But I have found that I need to take a break from my desk from time to time. If I have spent several long days at the desk working on a project, I look for opportunities to work away from my corner office—even if it is only for an hour. Specific tasks, such as cross-checking references for a copyediting project or doing the first read of a document, can be done anywhere I have a good work surface. On a wet, dreary day that might be on my couch in front of a fire using a kidney-shaped lap desk I bought from Levenger several years ago. If the weather is nice and my motivation is flagging (Hello Monday), I might migrate to the back porch for the day or spend a few hours at a local coffee shop. For training webinars or coaching calls, I might borrow my husband’s rolling laptop stand and go to a quieter place in the house. Finally, I sometimes take a meeting or work on administrative tasks at a makeshift standing desk at the end of the kitchen island. I use a Pona Ola balance board to allow for a bit of movement and to keep my legs from getting too tired.

I find that intentionally getting away from my desk to engage in different tasks helps me maintain focus and stay refreshed. How about you? What changes can you make to your workspace to enhance your productivity? How might a change of scenery help?

You can also explore these ideas further with a couple of podcast episodes that inspired me to think about how my physical environment affected my productivity.

• Do you designate certain work environments for specific tasks? Creating a Productive Workspace (Make Your Way Podcast)

• Do you have a space that you reserve for serious work? #WriteMore (#AmWriting Podcast)