At the onset of the pandemic, our homes needed to host our workday almost overnight. Believe it or not, our homes have great potential to provide us with a solid workspace. In fact most modern offices have been trending toward a more residential design after research found homier environments make us feel safe, which allows us to be more creative.
So whether you’re still working from home or have access to a separate workplace, here are some tips on how to uplift your work environment and enhance your ability to stay present throughout the day.
Practice Essentialism
Essentialism is a fancy way of saying “tidy up”. The first thing we can do to elevate our workspace is to get rid of clutter. Go through the exercise of picking up each item and being fully present with it. If it does not inspire your work (for example, a book on display) or you have not used it in awhile (notes from a completed project), move it from your workspace. Clearing away the non-essential will invite more mental clarity.
Enhance your View
Prioritize what you see when you lay out your workspace and give yourself the best view possible. If you have a window, situate yourself so that you can look outside, or at least catch the natural light. Doing so enhances brain function. If you’re facing a wall, choose to hang art or inspirational quotes that bring you into positive presence when they catch your eye.
Sit on the Floor
If your body allows, try to spend some time each day sitting on the floor with a straight spine. Floor sitting keeps our hips flexible and offers us the feeling of being grounded. Try putting your laptop on a coffee table or and sitting on the edge of a pillow to experience this connection.
Surround Yourself With the Elements of Nature
Most of us find it easier to be present when we’re surrounded by nature because we are nature. Consider this when you arrange your workplace by surrounding yourself with the five natural elements: water, fire, earth, wood, and metal. On my desk I always have a full glass of water (water), a single lit candle (fire), a crystal (earth), a plant (wood), and my laptop and monitor (metal). Scan your current space to sense which elements, added or subtracted, may invite a better balance for both your inner and outer world.
Read more on how to ignore the chores and stay focused while working from home.
Find Gratitude
Look around and call out something specific you like about your space. Identifying that one cheery aspect can uplift you and cue your mindset to finding more inspiration.
A wonderful poet named Kahlil Gibran writes, “Work is love made visible.” Our workspace should be a reflection of that by being a place we appreciate. Going through these steps will establish that awareness and bring you into presence with your tasks each day.
