How much time do you spend in your office? Depending on your type of work… the answer may vary. However, I know there’s a good portion of us who spend the lion’s share of our waking hours in our office space.
When was the last time you really looked around your workspace and saw what was surrounding you? Honestly, I’m doing that as I write this and recognizing a few things that I would change.
If you’ve been following me for the last several years, then you know that I’m a big fan of crafting your life intentionally and by that I mean both being intentional about your decisions, priorities, and actions, as well as crafting the environment surrounding you intentionally to support and bring you joy.
I know a lot of people who take this to heart when it comes to their personal space… their bedroom, living room, or kitchen gets that beautiful touch that makes it yours. Have you brought that into your office space?
In my book Inspired Action, I wrote a chapter about creating an environment that feeds you… in fact, it was the very first chapter of the book that I drafted almost 6 years ago. Everything I wrote then is still true. Yes, I still believe that function comes first… since I refuse to waste energy fighting with my space and stuff. And, I still believe that surrounding yourself with whatever brings you joy (light, color, art, live plants and flowers) brings energy into a space and thus into you.
However, I’ve also evolved my workspace several times in the past six years (in other words I’ve moved 3 times during that period) and with each new space some things changed and others have remained the same.
So, in writing to you today I want to offer a few additional thoughts about crafting your work environment to feed your soul.
Become Aware of your “Set Point.”
We all have a set point regarding how much stuff or clutter you’re comfortable having around you. For some of us that point is very high, and we like having our piles of paperwork or other paraphernalia close at hand. For others, even one page of paper on the desk that isn’t in active usage is too much. This isn’t about judgment or “right and wrong.” It’s about awareness.
What is your set point at the moment, and are you happy with it? Are you ready to shift your experience of your space? If you do decide to get more organized, then you might enjoy this video about my SWABS method.
Or, perhaps you’re driving yourself crazy trying to maintain a standard that you thought was absolute. Maybe life has shifted (you’ve had kids, are taking care of a sick loved one, or just have a huge project on your plate) and now is the time to cut yourself a little bit of compassionate slack by raising your set point a bit and letting some of that stuff just hang out for a bit.
If you’re happy, and in your sweet spot, then nice job! Give yourself a pat on the back and smile… you’ve earned it.
It’s about awareness and intentionality. Just because you’re set point has been in a specific place in the past doesn’t mean that it has to continue there indefinitely into the future. Take a moment to reflect and decide what’s best for you right now.
Little Things Matter
In the past couple months, I’ve started playing more with aromatherapy. And, while it was a little bit of an investment to collect a selection of oils that would allow me to shift and play with the aromas in my space each day, it has become a really joyful practice. Rather like having playlists of music for different moods, I’m learning how to match the smells in my space to my intentions as well.
It’s subtle things like sounds and aromas that, I think, have often been ignored in their impact on your effectiveness. Once we address the more obvious elements like function (is it organized & does the space work), and beauty (how does it look; is it appealing). Then, it can be a joy to play with these more subtle senses. Maybe you want to create a signature scent for your workspace? Or, perhaps you’ll have a palette of combinations that you can adjust to your work focus or mood each day?
I know that I’ve had a set of music playlists that I’ve used for years to help me shift between different phases of my day, and I continue to evolve them. The longest lasting (and one I’m listening to at the moment) is my writing playlist which is largely gentle, classical music. I find that I really can’t write when there are lyrics (or at least English lyrics… apparently some Latin, German, and Italian doesn’t matter as much.)
Then, more recently, I’ve creating a high energy dance playlist for when I need to gear up, create some joy and fun in my day. I put that on sometimes before starting a webinar or when I just want a dance break.
Now, I’m working on my morning and evening playlists which are largely ambient, Celtic, or classical with either bright, upbeat energy to start the day or quiet, gentle, soothing themes to bring things to a close.
If you’re not ready to invest in a diffuser and some aromatherapy oils, then perhaps you’d rather pull together a few music playlists to help you shift your energy throughout your day via sound.
Re-evaluate Regularly
Just because you love the smell of fir and cinnamon in the winter doesn’t mean that’s going to be your thing next summer. Similarly, those motivational posters that you hung on your wall two years ago may no longer speak to your heart the same way. That’s ok! None of these decisions are written in stone, and what might be the perfect expression of your space in one chapter of your life might need some significant re-evaluation later.
Around this time of year (early February) for the last several years, my husband and I do a whole home check-in with each other. Are we happy with everything? We walk from room-to-room and make a list. What would we choose to change about this space? Is it working for us? Since I work from home this includes my office, but if you don’t then I would encourage you to do the same thing in your workspace too.
Sometimes things that made the list last year never got addressed, and we decide that we really don’t care that much and take them off. Other times, we notice how many things we did get done and realize that we’ve come a long way with a particular space, which inspires a little gratitude and celebration.
Usually we’ll also do a little space clearing and blessing ritual while we’re at it to “start us fresh” for the year. This little yearly ritual is part of our intentional living practice. It gives us a chance to connect with each other and get on page about the little shifts that would make our home an even more pleasant space for our lives.
Next Actions
Has this post sparked any thoughts or ideas about how you might craft your environment to feed you more? Perhaps your next action is some significant re-organizing, some thoughtful redecorating, or just some subtle shifts to the scents and sounds that surround you. I encourage you to share this post on social media and let others know what changes it has inspired you to create.
No matter what shifts you decide you’re ready to make, may they inspire you to craft your environment with care and increase your sense of living intentionally each day.
