How Changing My Desk Setup Increased My Productivity
If you’re anything like me and my girlfriend, we are constantly battling to keep our insanity while working in the same spot hour after hour on different projects. Between remote work and school, we were jumping from our desk that faced a bare wall to working in bed to try to find some sense of inspiration in our work space.
That was when we decided to make the “living room” into the office.
Moving the Desks
Our first choice was to get ourselves away from facing the wall. It was constantly looking up into a bare area. We had tried several times to try and spruce things up with a calendar or whiteboard, but it never felt natural.
So, first things first we moved the desks to face each other. So now when we looked up from our screens we would see each other or an open space. It felt more free and open already.
Instead of getting burnt out and wanting to stop working early, I am now glued to the desk and I love it. If I feel burned out I can stand up and breathe and look out the window at the little pond across from our apartment. It’s immediately relaxing. It has allowed me longer stretches of working without feeling burnout. Meaning the micro-breaks have become less and less common and work continues at a renewed pace.
New Computer
I have had a pretty decent laptop for the last 3 years of college. And that piece of technology has brought me a long way. But once I started my remote position, it became more and more difficult to switch between tasks. I found that my laptop was running slower and slower. I decided it might be time for a change.
This new computer is something my 13-year-old self could have only dreamed about. I opted for a pre-built CyberPowerPC that I knew could handle the load of work and play (link to the one I bought myself). Getting something that was pretty hefty in terms of power was important to me as I have been gaming since I could wrap my hands around a controller. I also know that since I don’t have as much time on my hands like I used to, this computer would last me quite some years.
The two monitors were an amazing option as well. I was originally going to opt for one really big one but found that there feels like more of a division in my real estate when looking at two screens versus one big one. It increased my work output by about double.
Once I did the math, the computer basically paid for itself after about 150 hours of work. Anything after that has simply increased my pay rate and income.
New Keyboard
This one felt more like a brain hack than an upgrade. While I have always found that there is satisfaction in writing, nothing has compared to working on a mechanical RGB keyboard. When you’re writing, it feels like the finished product is the point where you should get the gratification for your work. Not with this bad boy.
Every keystroke feels as if I earned it. The nice “click and clack” of every letter that is typed feels as if I just wrote the best thing since Harry Potter. It gives typing that retro feel, as if I am in a 1950’s office full of typewriters. It is very motivating for me. The keyboard also gives me some distance between me and the screen, whether it be with the laptop or the desktop, this new keyboard has improved my typing speed and the motivation behind it.
Adding Color
Between the keyboard, the mouse, the mouse pad, and the desktop case itself, I have moved everything into an RGB aspect that I possibly could. After spending time with a dull non-backlit keyboard on my laptop for years, I found it very unsatisfying to type on in the dark, with me very rarely ever wanting to use the track pad.
Using the RGB system to have everything constantly changing colors underneath my fingertips has made the desk feel alive. It feels as if every click, every movement, every keystroke breathes new life into the desk and my work. It no longer feels as if I am simply using a computer, but working with a living object to create pieces of work and art.
The pièce de résistance for the desk space was buying the Phillips Hue Light Bulbs (Multi-Color). I was no longer limited to the daylight and office light options when it came to keeping the office area lit at night.
Now I’m able to set moods and scenes that inspired and energized me in my work.
Change Isn’t Always Bad
Change will come whether we like it or not. But sometimes we need the motivation to see that change is actually in our favor.
Next year I may even change my desk again or get a new one to see what that brings me in terms of refreshing my inspiration and motivation to work and create.
Play it by ear, do what is best for you and make the best out of the situation you are given. Change isn’t always bad, sometimes it is just what we need.
More Reads by Matt Marandola:
