Space Matters
Hey Friends!
Y’all. It’s been a WEEK.
Have you ever had a day, a week, a month, where you just couldn’t quite make any traction or progress? Well in a lot of ways, that’s been the story for our family for the past little while. Lately, this has been particularly true because we’ve been really struggling to stay healthy. Ear infections, salmonella, the flu, more ear infections, another stomach bug.
I kid you not, that’s just been the last 6 weeks.
We’re just ready for things to get back to some semblance of “normal.”
And maybe you know how that feels, too. If so, we’re here with you.
Let’s dive right in.
A Thought.
Have you ever started a new job and just inherited the workspace of the person before you? Maybe they left some books behind on the shelves or you found some old pens and a stapler in the desk drawer.
Hopefully you heard something similar to the words I did when I started my new job a little over a year ago: “Make the space yours. Let us know what we can do to help make that happen.”
Well, it’s been almost 15 months and I’m still in the process of “making it mine.” Let’s just say we’re taking it slow and thinking through it.
The reality is, I just keep getting distracted by other things that take up my time and I haven’t made a full effort to really finish out the space. But over the past couple of months we’ve made some pretty big strides. If you walked into my office now you wouldn’t even recognize it compared to what it used to look like. (You can see some of the transformation in this video on my YouTube channel)
It’s amazing what some paint, a new desk, and replacing 25-year-old carpet will do.
This week, I added some tools to my desk that have really started to move things forward. A bigger monitor makes working easier and helps me not hunch over while I work. A separate keyboard (here’s one that’s similar to mine) makes it easier to keep the desk clutter free and open. (Here’s a list of some of the things I’ve been adding to my office)
But here’s the thing, it’s not about the stuff.
What I’m finding is that there’s something incredibly meaningful about your environment and how it contributes to the way you work. Having a space that fits your way of working and reflects the values that you have will enable you to be more creative, more productive, and maybe even enjoy your job more.
And it doesn’t have to be an office. It’s wherever you do what you do.
My dad does a lot of driving for his job, so he drives a truck that he enjoys being in, even if a smaller hybrid would be more fuel-efficient.
Maybe you’ve reoriented the play room in your house so you can have a space in the corner to work on the things that bring you joy.
Maybe you love to bake, and adding a new mixer has made you more efficient—thus making you want to bake more.
Whatever and wherever it is for you, take a minute to think about your environment—even if it’s not where you work 9-5. There’s something about the space we live, work, and play in that will either help us grow or hinder us from moving forward. What’s one thing you could change, add, or take away that would clear up some mental space, make you more productive and efficient, or just make you enjoy what you do a little bit more?
I’d love to hear about it. Comment on this post or send me an email. I’d love to know how you are crafting an environment that helps you work and live better.
A Resource.
I know I’ve shared this before, but I need to share it again.
This year, I’m working through reading the Bible using Jason Mayfield’s Tear Up Your Bible reading plan. And it’s amazing.
And you may be thinking, “Why don’t you just start at the beginning and go from there?”
Because if it was that easy, everyone would be doing it.
Jason has created a reading plan that keeps you moving and helps you not get bogged down. You can see clearly what is upcoming and you can start any time. In fact, you’ll read the entire Bible (including the New Testament TWICE) in less than 365 days.
And he’s got lots of other resources on money, creativity, and more.
Download the plan and let’s tear up our Bibles together this year.
A Verse.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.
— 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (NLT)