Building a Workspace That Helps You Focus: Lighting, Noise and Desk Organization

Why your environment matters

The same person can focus easily in one environment and not write a single line in another. Changing your environment is far easier and longer lasting than trying to solve it with willpower. If you build an environment where work starts as soon as you sit at the desk, you save the energy spent each time wondering "should I or shouldn't I?"

Lighting

• A big difference between screen and surrounding brightness tires your eyes easily. Don't leave only the screen bright in a dark room
• Light your desk with indirect lighting or a desk lamp, and adjust its position so light doesn't reflect off the screen
• At night, use the feature that warms your screen's color temperature to ease the strain on your eyes
• If you draw by hand, have light come from the upper left if you're right-handed to reduce shadows

Noise

It is hard to eliminate noise completely. Instead, turn it into predictable sound or adjust the time of day.

1. Seal gaps around the door or use thick curtains to reduce outside noise.
2. Play steady white noise such as rain, waves or a fan at low volume to mask sudden sounds.
3. Music with lyrics can get in the way of writing, so choose instrumentals or ambient sound.
4. Agree on "focus hours" with your family or roommates in advance and agree not to talk to you during those times.
5. During noisy hours, move to a place where you can work, such as a library or cafe.

Tidying your desk

Having many visible objects on your desk scatters your focus. Keep only what you need for work and move the rest to a drawer or elsewhere. If you get into the habit of tidying your desk for a minute before work, that also serves as a starting ritual.

Cutting distractions

• Put your phone somewhere other than on the desk. Just being out of sight reduces how often you check it
• Make a separate browser profile for work so it has no social media bookmarks
• Turn off all notifications during focus time. Set it to allow only certain people through for urgent contact
• Keeping an online studio open where you can see others working reduces the time you spend slacking

Separate your work space from your rest space

Working in bed blurs the line between rest and work and makes it easy to do neither well. If space is tight, try creating a starting cue for work, such as turning on a desk light or playing a particular piece of music. When the cue repeats, your body learns that "now is work time."

Change your environment and keep notes

Each time you change one thing in your environment, briefly note that day's focus and output. If you change several things at once you can't tell what worked. If you change one thing a week and note the result, you can find the combination that suits you.

Try it yourself: a 15-minute desk check

You don't have to change your environment all at once. Change one thing a day and note the difference.

1. Take a photo of your desk and clear away everything unrelated to work.
2. Fix one uncomfortable thing among monitor height, chair height and lighting position.
3. Move your phone off the desk and turn off notifications.
4. Work in this setup for a week, note how your focus was, and pick one more improvement.