Make Your Workspace Your Own
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Welcome to Spark an Idea Thursday. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!
This week’s “Spark an Idea Thursday” theme is about improving your workspace, and there are a lot of ways to do that. I could tell you to get more organized, to eliminate clutter, or to get new technology. I could tell you that you need a more ergonomically correct chair, a second monitor, or even a bigger office.
Instead, I’m going to borrow a piece of advice from American Idol: Make your workspace your own.
In case you don’t watch American Idol, let me explain. The judges are always telling the contestants to take a song that someone else made famous and “make it your own” – meaning that the singers should inject their own personality, artistry, and sensibilities into the song. I think the same general idea could apply to your workspace.
I’ve seen a ton of offices, cubicles, and desks that look so generic it’s impossible to tell who actually works there (if anyone). They may be neat, clean, and organized, but where’s the personality? Where’s the fun?
At this point you may be thinking, “fun? we’re talking about work here.” That’s true, but if you’re going to spend a lot of time working every day, why not work someplace that makes you feel comfortable and happy?
I’ll be honest – my workspace is definitely not the neatest or the most well-organized (understatement alert!). But when I sit down at my desk, I’m happy to be there. I see pictures of my daughter and husband, a few books that I absolutely love, my favorite coffee mug, and a bunch of writing notebooks that I hand-picked for their cool covers. I see a few cards I got for Mother’s Day, and a bunch of my favorite pens (yes, I have a favorite type of pen, and I order them in bulk so I never run out).
In short, my workspace feels like it’s all mine, and that makes me happy.
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Christina Lemmey is the mother of two school-aged girls, a wife, and the owner of 
My workspace is far from clean, too. My husband figured getting me a smaller desk would help keep the clutter down . . . but he was wrong!
I’ve got books that I’m reading, post-it notes, plus assorted toys everywhere! Definitely my own space, though I don’t have any photos up.
I used to use a desk in the corner of my loungeroom – not a space of my own at all! Now I have a great workspace in a separate room, with paintings my kids have made for me on the wall, and a lovely view of the back garden.
Good advice, My “office” has two guitars, two full oak bookcases, six Winchester paintings, and a few other items that are “my own.” I doubt many other people would like my workspace, but I do.
@Dwayne – Sounds like your office is perfect for you!
@Marilyn – glad you were able to upgrade to a workspace of your very own. I can guarantee that as soon as my daughter is old enough to paint something for me, my walls will be covered with her art!
@Genesis – what is it with husbands? Mine had the same theory about a smaller desk (and a smaller purse). Needless to say, it didn’t work. Now I have a big desk and a big purse and I’m much happier