The Importance of Workplaces

I’ve just discovered this today.

Workspaces, workplaces, workstations, whatever you wish to call them, they all play a big role in:

1) How much work you get done

2) How fast you get that work done

3) What kind of work you get done

My story is extremely short, but here goes:

Two days ago, my internet went down.  That’s not correct, as my mom could still access it, but I thought that my router was broken, something like that.  So, I go downstairs, and asked my mom if she could access the internet.  She said yes.

I thought it was weird, so I went back upstairs, and tweaked my computer settings, my router settings, connection settings, used different cables, changed my IP, and after an hour of fruitless troubleshooting, I went downstairs.

From the kitchen, where it is close enough to the router to get a “Good” on the Windows Connection Gauge/meter/tray notification, I enabled my Wireless, and connected to my network.  Bingo.  Ran back upstairs with my laptop, and tested the connection with cable, again.  No cigar.  I thought it was a problem with my router.

I moved my whole workstation downstairs in one fell swoop.  I was carrying my computer + my cooler in one hand, along with the battery, my keyboard in my other hand, my mouse in my pocket, backpack on my back, papers, pencils, erasers on top of my laptop, and textbooks that I couldn’t cram into my backpack under my arms.

On the kitchen counter, it was an easy set-up.  Around a minute, and I had everything connected, ready to go, just like it had been there for months.

I stayed downstairs for a day.  Eventually, I was sick of the amount of activity in the kitchen, and the mess of papers and items on the island and the table itself.  My dad would watch TV at the loudest volume, my mom would wash the dishes, and my dog would whine and beg for food.

Later on Sunday, I decided to move.

I first hunted around for an area with good connection.  My router wasn’t top-notch, so it could only reach about half of my house.  Sad, my room was on the opposite end.  Blegh.

Anyways, I go to my room again, hoping, but not expecting, the cable connection to work.  No dice.  I go to my sister’s room (she’s off to college) and set up there with a great connection to the internet.

I quickly bring my stuff up, clear off a short table, one shelf of a large bookshelf, and set up my workplace here.  Right now, the wires of everything are behind my desk, out of site, and the well-lit table I’m at right now is large and without any pockmarks or scratches.

I quickly finished my homework it would have taken me 7 hours to finish at my normal station, even with checking my RSS feeds and other things.  I didn’t time it, but I believe it was around two hours (includes reading other blog entries, CNN, BBC, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Engadget, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, Wired, GNews, and my mail.  :D)

Now, I do agree with the articles I’ve read on how to be more efficient at work and at school.

First, never work in the same place you sleep.  I feel the stress from normal work doesn’t give you good sleep.  My examples?  I fell asleep in EVERY math test so far.  I didn’t do well at all.

Second, disconnect yourself from all distractions.  Including computers.  (I can’t live up to this, but I’m trying.  The time the power outage occurred, I finished my homework in half an hour.  And I had easily twice the amount to do.

Thirdly, be neat and organized.  Try to start from the beginning of the time you start working in a specific workstation and maintain it all the way to where you currently are.  This piece of advice I learned on my own had helped me with finding the things I want to find, when I want it.  Make sure to have a large, open space for your desk, and have very few items on it.  Have a secondary table for your books, materials, and finished work.  If you have to, have a third for your papers.

Fourthly, give yourself breaks.  I give myself a break after every major assignment finished, or three minors lumped together. EX: After I finish my math and my World Geo homework, I put it away and pull up my keyboard, and start reading up on CNN and the news I missed.  After 15 minutes, I get back to work, and I do this until I finish my homework.  Breaks allow you to clear the cache of your mind and lets you start anew on your next assignment, leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to take anything on.

And there’s my advice and my tactics on staying on top of what you do, how you do it, and how fast you do it.  I’d also like to hear your tips and trick on how you get things done.  Leave a comment, if you’d like to share, or if you just appreciate my post.  Thanks!