Creating an Environment That Inspires Productivity

Recently, my best friend came to me and asked if I had any tips on how she could motivate herself to start getting her work done. She had cleaning to do, as well as homework to finish, and she had been procrastinating all day. I understood how she felt, because I often get in those slumps where no matter how hard I try I just cannot get to work.

As I thought about the best advice to give her, I noticed the things around me that make me feel the most productive when I use them. In order for me to get work done–and do a good job with it–I have to set up an environment that is conducive to the task at hand.

Because everyone is different, each space is going to be unique to you, but here are some examples of the conditions I like to be in when completing certain jobs and activities. When I set these up, I am ten times more likely to complete the task more efficiently than if I was just trying to do it without a method.

• Doing Homework or Other Paperwork

Whether you’re a student, a business professional, or just someone who needs to complete assignments given to them, creating the right space is key. It’s very common that people set up offices or work spaces in their home that don’t end up being used as one. The key to avoiding that is simplicity. Too much clutter on your workspace won’t give your ideas enough room to flow. Having too little on the other hand means you are unprepared for the task and will have interruptions while trying to work.

Here’s what my balanced environment for doing homework contains: two drinks, a candle, soft light, necessary writing utensils and reference pieces, sticky notes, and instrumental music.

First, we have two drinks. One of them should always be ice water, and I’ve always found it better to have it in a cup with a lid and straw that way nothing drips on anything important. Your other beverage should be a comfort drink. For me, this is hot chocolate, but it can be tea, coffee, a smoothie, or anything that makes you feel content when you take a sip. I like to use this as a reward-system every time I complete a task. If I finish one page of homework, I can take a sip of hot chocolate. Snacks can sometimes be too distracting, and eating can pull you out of the head space you’ve created.

Next, I light a candle. As I’ve begun adopting a minimalist lifestyle, I’ve gotten myself to a place where there’s no more than one candle in every room. So, when I light it in the specific room that I do work in, it puts me in a mindset of productivity. It also creates a nice ambiance in the room.

Schools and office buildings often have bright fluorescent lights that make it hard to focus on work, so you don’t want to repeat this in your home. Your laptop and phone also have these harsh lights, so you want to combat it as much as possible. You should be relaxed when completing your paperwork. I turn off the lights in the room I’m working in and then turn on less intense lights around me. The candlelight glows, as well as my white Christmas lights I have strung up along my desk. It’s the perfect amount to create a calm environment to work in.

As previously stated, you don’t want your work to be interrupted by constantly having to get up to find the things you need. Every time you break that head space, you have to work even harder to bring yourself back in. So, collect all materials beforehand and set within reaching distance, but also out of the way enough so you don’t feel claustrophobic. This can include textbooks, your work bag, a planner, and red pens for corrections. It’s all about what you know you’ll need while you work.

Sticky notes are a must-have in every room of my house, and my workspace is filled with different shapes, sizes, and colors. One reason being, if I have a thought that is unrelated to my work but I need to remember it for later, I’ll write it down and put it on the lid of my laptop. That way, I’ll see it once I’m finished and close it. I also use them to write down key information that I need to remember between pages in books or screens on my computer. Flipping back and forth is very distracting for me, so sticky notes help me solve that problem. You can also use them as bookmarks and tags for a color-coded information system. My most recent obsession is translucent sticky notes that are really helpful to add into my notes.

The last element to my productive work environment is one that really ties it all together: Instrumental music. Lyrical music can be distracting and tempting to sing-along with, which is a distraction–especially for someone who loves music as much as I do. But, instrumental music I can tune out in my brain and only listen with my ears. It’s very calming, which puts me in a better mindset to work in. This is the playlist I use, but songs can be found on any music streaming service.

• Cleaning Your House

For most people, this isn’t a fun task to complete, especially if you let your house get too messy. So, I work to make it fun and easy to forget that I’m doing work. I do that with lists, music, and a specific outfit.

Making a list is so important to making sure that everything you want accomplished while cleaning actually gets done. I break it down by room, and before I start I go to each one and write down every mess that I see. Then, once I complete the task, I can check if off, which always gives me a boost of serotonin.

While studying, you need a quiet and non-distracting playlist in the background, but for me, cleaning requires the opposite kind. I blast my pump-up and energetic music through every speaker in the apartment while cleaning. I need the distraction of songs that I love in order to make the work go by faster. Do I look silly while vacuuming to Avril Lavigne? Of course, but my house is always spotless in a couple hours to make up for it.

Pajamas, to me, provide a sense of relaxation, and that’s the opposite of what I want when I need to get a lot of cleaning done. So, to match the vibes created by the music, I throw on workout clothes. These are easy to move around in, and get washed often so they’re quite durable. Leggings, a sports bra, and a messy bun is my go-to cleaning look. After all, if your house is messy enough you might get more of a workout by cleaning as opposed to going to the gym.

• Expressing Yourself

However you do this, whether it’s through writing, journaling, drawing, making music, or just being alone with your thoughts, there’s a specific environment you want to create. It needs to be calming, open, and peaceful.

Make sure you’re comfortable, first of all. This means sweats and socks or laying in bed under blankets. You should just be able to sink your body down wherever you are and let your mind take over.

Next, put things out that calm you. These can be soft snacks you love, a warm drink, pictures of people who make you smile, music that brings you to a better place, and anything else you can think of when you envision serenity.

I like to be in my bed under a couple of blankets with a cup of cocoa and a candle lit. I’ll grab my laptop and write stories or articles while listening to my favorite songs. This is an environment I can create any time of day, and because it works so well, I’m constantly writing and being inspired to express myself more.

So, when thinking about the ideal workspace to hone your productivity, do some self-evaluation. Make a list of things that cause you stress, and things that take it away. Think about where you’re most productive as well. If you can’t work well in your home, the library or a quiet coffee shop are my favorite places to work when out-and-about. This process is all about making you feel comfortable enough to put distractions aside and focus on what really matters to you in that moment.