Ain’t nuthin’ but a party… Just a writer’s home office party! *everybody sing*
Imagine if we approached our workspaces with this kind of enthusiasm! Excitement! Joy! Is it too much to ask for a societal push to ever-happening laughter?!
*Dances around the room. In a desk chair. On wheels*
SET the MOOD with THE STARS
Why must we come into our workspaces with a numbness? Or a disgruntled affliction? We sit down. We attempt to hit those words of the day. We Pomodoro-time ourselves into a busy oblivion. Next thing we know, we’re going through never-ending administrative tasks, social media planning/posting… busying ourselves with everything BUT the writing.
*speaking of.. where’s the new book, Miss Rita?
oOh great. You’re back…
*i wouldn’t miss this for the world
Right.
Then… it happens.
We get down on ourselves. We beat ourselves up for thinking we are failures. So easily sidetracked by hoards of nonsense that is somehow still important nonsense.
*not a fan of nonsense
No! Me neither, inner voice!
*nonsense seems to gravitate to you tho
Yea. But, whaddya gon do *shrugs*
So.. we make a concerted effort. We get online and search for some positivity. A video, a book, a quote, and happy images – ONLY to find those ever-creepeth-in, depressing, doom-scrolling, negativity, downward-sad face-spiral hit… intruding into the feeds. Why aren’t there more celebrations-focused for the happy and fulfilled? In lieu of the ever-constant, internally (and often miserably), focused crowd?
*maybe it’s time to clean out who you follow?
Maybe.
*Or make use of that mute button?
Yes. Or that.
*could also be by design.
I get it.
*from those app builders
Got it! May I continue now?
*Yes. You may.
What’s in an office anyway? How much stuff do we really need in there to make the dream work? At some point…
doesn’t ALL just become noisy?
So.. I ask you dear friends, writers, poets, and watercooler dwellers alike.
What makes the writer in you tick? Do you find yourself easily distracted? I sure as heck am. Can be… Annoyingly so. And I have no idea what makes me tick. Or do I? I’m sure I do… At least, Most of the time. I do?
Sometimes? Hardly?
*oh geez
As the desk announcement sign I keep on my desk reminds me:
I’m pretty sure I have no idea.
*can’t argue with you there
But, what I am sure of…
*we got brain activity, folks!
…is that after shuffling and a’ shuffling… and a’ more shuffling. It was time to just completely overhaul this space.
I find that a good descent into disarray can do us good from time to time. Its creepy-crawly into our peripheral is a signal that we need to tend to these tolerations. Clear them out. Give them some tender loving care. Address that said intrusion, or nagging inner voice that just won’t get the hint.
*this inner voice?
Ugh, yes, you. Quiet down. I’m working here.
*what I do?
You know what you’re doing.
*i’m just your friendly, neighborhood nudger, stop being so sensitive
“LEAVE ME ALONE! I’M TRYING TO WRITE HERE!”
I shout to – no one in particular – except that inner booty-hole aching to move me away from my creative, intense-need for focus activity of writing.
*hi there! she’s talking about me!
Annnd anyways …*grumbling* …After… day after day, month after month, and literally… year after year of collecting, who knows what, that’s spilling into my space. It was definitely time to show some love to where I spend the most time.
My office. My Writer’s Office.
*where the magic happens
Why do we neglect our own spaces in the name of productivity-first? Is that just me? I keep a tidy home, a happy husband, and well-adjusted guard dog on my roster. You’d think maintaining all that goes with those things alone would scream SUCCESS!
*did you just refer to your fam as if they’re on a sports team?
Hmm.. I guess I did.
*so… what happens if they get benched?
haha. Good one! Now, pay attention… *smh*
Yet, I come into my office and fail to tidy the desk at the end of each work day, a collection of post it notes are starting to look like a mountain terrain, and why do I still have this broken crayon rolling around the floor?
Now, friends, it wasn’t that I want to rant and rave in this whining-adjacent complaint-a-thon.
No.
What I will do instead is make a plan, set an order of things to be had, and finally dive into this refresh with MAD EXCITEMENT!
If you’ve made it this far, you must be able to relate these ramblings of marbled thoughts. Or, you’re intrigued at the randomness, one’s brain can lay down a set of corresponding train tracks.
And, with that… it’s tiiime to Parrrtayyy!
Pull out your music, grab your cleaning gloves, and maybe a paint can and let’s refresh that office! Do you have any tips you could share that would move this process along?
I’ve got a few I can offer.
As a person who loves to rearrange furniture, change out decor seasonally, and even make changes to items repurposing them for unusual but creative uses. I can say that I have extenuating experience in the art of refreshing a space!
I like to see what I use on a daily basis or basically, it doesn’t get used. After that, it’s put it away and keep it neat. So, certain things need to be at the ready!
My Tips For A Writer’s Office Glow Up.
So… let’s do this!
- Empty the space.
This means I ideally, I should take out pretty much everything in the office. Except what or where I was working, essentially.
If this isn’t feasible don’t worry about it!
I am not above the act of Just shoving it all in the middle of the room, or even pulling things out as you go around the room! No ONE system you choose is, THE system!
But, a fair bit o’ warning: Keep the sections of the room small or it can become too overwhelming. And, we’re kinda tryna avoid that. *wink
Be okay if you have to adjust accordingly to what suits your style, and your best-option approach that works for you!
2. Add some color.
Or don’t!
One thing that is commonly overlooked is the beautiful options out there to vibe out a room with some color! Be bold. Be subtle. Be monochromatic. Be whichever tall tales you want to tell with the splashing of spaghetti to the wall. Give it a go!
REMEMBER: IT’S JUST PAINT. IT CAN BE REPAINTED. PAINTED OVER. WALLPAPERED. SCRUBBED AWAY. SO NO FEAR, MY LIL’ RISK TAKERS!
ITS NOT PERMANENT.
3. Cut the clutter.
This is a biggie. Letting go of those piles of things that we see ourselves one day going thru, getting to, and tackling soon. The ‘GO BIG OR GO HOME’ sentiment doesn’t always work that easily here.
I have found smaller piles, areas, or sections of whatnot work best in approaching this task. It can be too overwhelming for most of us to take on the whole room at once. So?
Don’t!
Just plop on some music, set a timer for an hour (or less – go with what works best for your attention span here), and make this time feel special.
*How on earth do you make decluttering a special time?
Well, I’ll tell you. Instead of thinking this abomination I call a heaping pile of clutter must be dealt with.. let’s consider looking at it as I get to move closer to my future productive-self by showing thyself, the love now!
To clear what’s bogging me down now.
Think of it like the BUBBLE BATH self-care for your dreams!
4. Finishing Touches
Finally! You made it! This is really the fun part of this remodel for your office! For me, I had cords I wanted to hide, artwork, or accolades added to the walls, and designing a working area that really helps me, well uh… what’s that thing called again?
Ah, yes. Work!
This is a super personalized part of the process. Add plants, lighting, glitter, whatever is going to sell this space to your inner psyche as the go-to writing space for you! I personalized my space by adding candles, a television for ambient visuals and sometimes the sounds of a crackling fireplace, or storming raindrops.
Again, this is personal to you!
This is what makes your space enjoyable to be in, makes you smile, makes you feel productive. I need greenery, candles burning, and sounds of the outside; but, for you that may look – and sound – very different!
NOW Let’s Party!
Ever wondered how a writer parties?
Well.. I’ll tell you. It’s full of kind of inapropriate deviancy-
— haha! No. I’m just kidding.
These days… MY kind of WRITING PARTIES include my writing software, some writing sprints with friends, and livestream fun! For accountability, of course! *wink
Join us LIVE every Friday & Saturday 6:30am/3:30am EST/PT
We got 2 Full Hours using a Pomodoro Timer Style! Productivity!
And, sure, I’ll mix it up from time to time with my confetti poppers should the occassion seem fit!
Cuz’ ain’t no party like a write-in party! Am I right?
How I party has definitely changed as I’ve grown into this adulting thing. Can anyone relate?
Where’s the bottle service?
Which brings me to a sub-topic at the end of this post. A few bonus “how-to” and “success tips” kind of sub-topic. Because, now that we have a handle on that office space, we’ll have to consider how to maintain that focus for some, all-over writing success hype!
*and parties! VIP section! Whoop! Whoop!
MORE like a VIP Writer’s HOME Office VIP section.
*with bottle service?
