Our environment has an impact on everything we do from washing dishes to coding to playing with a puppy. If we are intentional about shaping our environment, we can make hard tasks easy and easy tasks even easier. In other words, environment matters.
When I talk about environment here I don’t mean nature, I mean our surroundings when we are doing any particular thing. For example, my environment when I’m working is my office. My environment when I’m watching wrestling is my living room. Think about something you do regularly or a habit you are trying to start doing regularly. Where do you do that? Is your environment working for you or against you?
We all have our own preferences and strengths so the ideal environment for any given task will vary for each of us. Creating a helpful environment will vary based on what you are trying to accomplish and your personality. I recently reorganized my office to make it easier to get work done on my book that I’m writing. I already had two desks but previously I was getting everything done, both work for my job and work on my book, on the same desk. The other desk was just there not being used. I separated my workspaces so my work for my job has its own desk and my work for my book has its own desk. This helps me focus on the task at hand better, it frees up more space on each desk, and it creates a more focused environment when I’m working on my book. When I used the same desk for everything, I would often want to check on my work stuff (not my book) or I’d be done with work for the day and not want to sit down at my desk again. Now, I go to my work desk for all my work stuff and my book desk for all my book writing stuff. This separation makes it easier for me to get into either work or writing mode and it removed the resistance to sitting at my book desk. (The resistance came from being done with work not wanting to work anymore even if it was on my book.)
Your ideal workspace for writing a book might look like a separate desk or maybe like a small table on a patio outside or a notebook with music playing. The details of the environment aren’t as important as ensuring that it’s tailored to your needs and personality.
How do we make our environment more productive?
First, we need to identify what we’re trying to accomplish. Are you trying to write a book or workout regularly or drink more water? Start by writing down what you want to accomplish. Next, make a list of what you need to accomplish that. For example, I need my computer, my outline, a keyboard (I don’t like typing on laptop keyboards), and minimal distractions when I write my book. Now, make a list of what would make you more likely to do that task or what would make it easier to accomplish. I need to minimize distractions on the computer and from my phone, so I put my phone out of easy reach, turn it on silent, and close all windows on my computer except for my word document. I also don’t like clutter, so I keep my desk neat. Another small thing is that I noticed I don’t like to face the back wall, so I moved my desk so that it was facing forward. I also moved my desk to the middle of the room. These are tiny details that may not make a difference to someone else, but they helped me start using my book desk. I also have the deadlines I set for myself written on a board in clear view from my desk as a reminder to hold myself accountable.
Once you have your task identified and your lists, it’s time for the fun part. Let’s make those lists a reality. Maybe you need to clean up your workspace. Maybe you need to add a timer with music playing. Maybe you need to change the direction your desk is facing. Or maybe you need to move yourself to a different space entirely. Maybe you’ve been trying to get things done in your office, but you really focus best on the couch or on the table in the backyard. Play around with it.
Our environment has a big impact on what we do, how we do it, and how much we enjoy it. Shape your environment to make the most of it. We can be intentional about making our environment work for us, or we can leave it to chance. Environment matters. Take advantage of it!
How will you create a more productive environment?
0 Comments