The Story
To set up my clients for success, I try to tune in to their natural tendencies, including where they work. For example, I don’t assume that someone pays their bills in their home office. Instead, I ask my client, “Where do you like to pay your bills?” Many of them, in fact, prefer to do their daily paperwork at their kitchen table. For those clients, we set up a paper area in or near the kitchen.
Another example - I worked with a client who preferred to do all his work in coffee shops. So we set up a go bag with his technology and important papers so he could "grab and go" at a moment's notice.
When I am in your home, I take my cues from you. And chances are, you do your best work in different spaces, depending on the task.
The Research
Students & Work Spaces
In Leslie Josel’s Book How to Do It Now Because It’s Not Going Away, Josel challenges her college student clients to choose 5 different places on campus to do their work. Her philosophy:
“Changing your environment keeps things interesting and fresh just when you start to lose focus and attention.” -Leslie Josel
She suggests going beyond the typical dorm lounge and campus coffee shop and choosing out-of-the-box places such as the photography darkroom, music rehearsal space and under a favorite tree.
The Self-Employed
Jefferey Shaw, author of The Self Employed Life, shares his ideas about switching spaces as a guest speaker on NAPO Stand Out Podcast Ep 76 The Self-Employed Life: Key strategies for sustainable entrepreneurial success
Shaw explains that he is constantly encouraging “creative thinkers”, aka the self-employed, to set up different work environments. And he practices what he preaches. Shaw has set up 7 environments in his own apartment for different tasks- a place to write his book, a place to zoom, a place to create his podcast, to name a few.
“When you space switch you’re tripping the brain to get into the immediate task of that space.” -Jeffrey Shaw
So if you pick the same space to write a book, your brain will be triggered to focus on writing when in that space.
He also claims that the noise at a coffeehouse is at the exact decibel to become background noise and encourage productivity.
In Conclusion
We are diverse complex creatures so it only makes sense that we have individual preferences about where we like to work.
Here are some places that I like to work when I am not organizing in other peoples homes:
I like responding to emails and writing my blog posts at my kitchen table where it is
nice and sunny (I am sitting there now as I write this post)
When I need privacy, I set up a mobile desk area in my bedroom, next to the window
Sometimes, if I am feeling a bit nervous or a little tired, I bring my laptop into the living room and sit in my reclining loveseat. It makes me feel calmer.
I get my best ideas in the shower or while driving although I don’t take a shower or go for a drive just to brainstorm (maybe I should)
I like to stand when going through papers - it keeps me from zoning out.
When I am procrastinating or I need accountability, I use focusmate.com where I am paired with an accountability partner.
When I have a problem, I go for a walk in nature, and usually return with some perspective and a solution.
Where do you do your best work? Let me know in the comments.