| Is your home office nothing more than a cramped | | | | rearrange the workspace to give it the feel I needed |
| corner of a guest bedroom or kitchen? I used to live | | | | to keep me coming back to a workspace I loved. |
| in an old arts and crafts style ranch, circa 1928. What | | | | Whenever I worked, I lit my favorite aromatherapy |
| the rooms lacked in space, they did make up for in | | | | candle. My senses were sharpened, and I felt serene |
| charm (as anyone who loves old homes can attest | | | | while performing my business tasks. |
| to). There was one corner of my very small guest | | | | I was told to rearrange the room so my desk faced |
| room that became my first home office. It consisted | | | | the door. This was to increase my feeling of security. |
| of my laptop on a small, antique desk with the printer | | | | If you can't arrange your room in this fashion, you |
| next to it on the floor. I used a beautiful, antique | | | | can place a mirror next to your computer or on the |
| bench for my desk chair. | | | | wall near it to have the ability to see the doorway. |
| In the beginning, the functionality of the room wasn't | | | | This will produce the same result. |
| a concern, but as my business grew, I realized I | | | | Water symbolizes abundance and creativity. I placed |
| needed to make some changes to maximize the | | | | a beautiful ocean picture from a recent trip to Aruba |
| efficiency of my workspace. The space also had to | | | | in front of my computer. That was easy enough, and |
| have the right "feel" if I was going to spend long | | | | it made a nice focal point for those staring off into |
| hours there. | | | | space moments. No more blank walls for me! |
| I am a true believer in alternative therapies such as | | | | The hardest part for me was de-cluttering the area |
| aromatherapy, therapeutic touch, feng shui, and all | | | | (I'm not really into cleaning.) My friends said all those |
| things organic. I decided to use some of these | | | | papers and junk laying around the already cramped |
| simple, yet effective means to maximize the | | | | area only served to heighten my anxiety and impede |
| efficiency of my home office. | | | | my work efficiency. I had to learn to throw things |
| My antique desk and bench were causing me to have | | | | and put papers in the recycling bin. They said it was |
| back and wrist pain, which took me way too long to | | | | really important, so I did it. I now find if I take five |
| figure out. As a long-time fitness addict, I didn't | | | | minutes at the end of a work session to clean up, |
| realize that my toned muscles would get sore in | | | | the maintenance is really manageable, even for me. |
| front of a computer, but they did indeed. | | | | Lastly, I added small green plants on the windowsill |
| Reluctantly,.I replaced the antique desk and bench | | | | and next to my screen. Plants bring an immediate |
| with a small, but ergonomically friendly desk and chair. | | | | calming effect. They also added some life to what |
| That alone was a huge help! (Plus the antiques were | | | | might have been an otherwise sterile work area. |
| happy to be back in their original locations, where | | | | I can honestly say I loved my first home office. You |
| they could resume their original jobs as eye-catching | | | | can apply these principles to your office cubicle to |
| room décor.) | | | | get the same results. Have fun and good luck! |
| My feng shui and hippy friends advised me how to | | | | |