My people don’t eat at tables.
We sit on the floor, legs folded under, and it’s surprisingly comfy that way. I crossed that mentality over to my workspace–I’ve never used a desk, always preferring the bed or the floor. This is terrible for both the neck and the productivity. You are always two degrees away from nerve damage and a nap. But the combo of stacks of crusty cereal bowls and $1000 laptops and uncapped pens finally proved unsustainable. Hence, the lovely new “ladder desk” leaning against one wall of our studio apt.
Problem is, having gone my entire professional life without one, I don’t have a clue how to arrange this space.
What to hang from the wall? What do I need close at hand? What cute little organizers and containers should I buy? Please help me!
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I have a sweet linear clock and tape dispenser from the MOMA Store, a wooden stapler, a black painted stainless steel lamp from Ikea, and a framed picture of John and Yoko. And tears, lots and lots of tears pooling in front of my keyboard.
Personally, I find it helpful to have something that smells good - in my case, a jasmine plant - nearby. It keeps the senses heightened. I’ve also recently started handwriting words and quotes that I like to the wall next to my desk. Sometimes it’s comforting to look at my handwriting after hours of banging on the keyboard.
Oh, mercy. Two lamps (I don’t have any natural light), Michele/Barack Terrorist Fist Bump magnet, vintage Reader errata, turntable and receiver for ripping vinyl when I’m doing grunt work, external sound card, Klipsch speakers I’ve been lugging around since college, Ozzie Smith signed baseball, Ozzie Smith Starting Lineup figurine, piles of CDs.
I need to do a reorganization tomorrow.
A bottle of Dibon Cava (Spain’s Champagne, $8.99 at Berkeley Bowl) or a couple Negra Modelos.
Also, a jumble of those magnetic spheres and rods (PlastWood Supermag, glow-in-the-dark), and a 3D wooden geometric puzzle. These provide some nice creative breaks from staring at the monitor.
My desk is a door sitting atop a file cabinet and an Ikea book shelf. Did you know that?
To make your desk more cozy, I suggest getting an industrial strength paper shredder, a label maker, and a bell which you can ring to tell your butler to bring more tea.
Tasneem, Tasneem, Tasneem. Clearly, you need a big cork board on your wall from which to hang interesting story ideas, articles, or visuals you would like to incorporate into your current project. In addition, you need a calendar on the wall. I recommend keeping your work space as clear as possible. Have a notebook handy and a jar of pens and pencils. I struggle with clutter all the time, so I’d really recommend a book shelf beside your desk, rather than keeping stuff on your desk. That way, when a story is done you can put your research materials away and take out relevant materials for your next article. No piles! xo