Importance of a good, personalized work station

By Jason Skidmore



My last blog entry talked about the importance of spring cleaning your PC. This time around I want to talk about the importance of having a good place to get work done. While everyone’s work space is going to look strikingly different, there are some basic pointers that will help you in being productive and comfortable for long periods of time. First and foremost is the thing that you are in contact with the most, your chair. Your chair should be one that is easily adjustable and helps maintain posture and comfort for long periods of time. I don't suggest some of the cheaper chairs you can find at places like Wal-Mart and Staples. I suggest putting some money into the chair and getting one that will keep you comfortable and relaxed while you work. Next is another very important aspect of your work station, your desk. Your desk should accomplish many things. There are many different combinations of desks that you can buy or build yourself. The sky is the limit, but the basic desk top should give you enough room to have at least two monitors, a keyboard, and a mouse with extra room to spare. Some desks feature a keyboard tray that you can use for the keyboard and mouse, among other things. The desk can also incorporate cable management and place for a desktop computer. As architecture students we require big computers, external hard drives and room to sketch, so take everything you may be doing at your desk into consideration. Shelving above or below is good for storing books, pictures, plants, and anything else you want to be close by. Music is important while working and can make 2 hours seem like 1 hour of work, so invest in some decent head phones or some decent speakers and crank up some tunes and enjoy. I suggest situating your desk close to window to take advantage of direct views of nature as well as a nice breeze from time to time. Some people suggest ambient lighting behind your monitors to help ease eye strain. I have tried this before and think it is definitely a nice thing to have. You can buy LED rope lights on Amazon for less than $10 and attach them to the wall or the back of your monitor with double sided tape. Keep your work space clear of clutter to help you be productive and keep track of important papers and to help minimize distractions. Don't just throw papers on the floor next your desk, actually file them away. In my research I have found that personalizing your workspace can actually benefit you in being able to comfortably work there for long periods of time. If you have a desk at work, do what you can to make it your own, so that it gives you a sense of ownership in the space. Keep good posture and make sure to move around while working to avoid body strain. Another good thing to do is have a timer that goes off every 90 minutes and get up and walk around for about 5 minutes. Taking your attention off of work and on other things can help you be more focused on tasks for longer periods of time. They call this voluntary attention vs. involuntary attention. Breaks are important and try to actually get up from your desk during a break instead of cruising Facebook or Twitter. Walking outside can do wonders for your mood and attention during a long work day or work week.