Desk Makeover: Create the Optimum Working Environment
Has your desk become a cluttered ruin filled with half-empty coffee mugs, teetering stacks of books, dusty piles of paper, and crumbs from your breakfast bagel?
Does your working environment make you feel refreshed, energized, and inspired or do you feel cramped, tired and overwhelmed?
Did you know that by changing the features of your working environment you can actually help yourself focus better, work more efficiently, and be more creative?
Whether you work at home or at an office, there are many ways that you can improve your desk space so that you can work to your maximum potential.
Reduce Clutter
Having a lot of junk on your desk is not only distracting when you are trying to work, but it can also make you feel overwhelmed and stressed out.
Just like staring out at the open ocean or the horizon can be calming for your mind, working at a clutter-free space will help you relax.
You will also find important documents and files quicker and easier rather than having to sift through piles of debris for them.
Here is a quick list to get started:
- Clear off everything from your desk and sort it into piles of things to thrown away and things to file.
- Create a filing system to organize your documents, which can be anything from folders in a drawer to a special cabinet.
- Make sure that everything is off the desk and put in its rightful place, and get in the habit of taking 10 minutes at the end of your day to organize your desk so that the clutter never builds up.
Light Up Your Life
Inadequate lighting in your work space could be sapping your energy, straining your eyes, and making it more difficult to get your work done.
Invest in a desk lamp which sheds light directly onto whatever you are working on so that you can see everything clearly.
Avoid florescent bulbs, because when they flicker they can cause eye strain after a while.
Inspire Yourself
Now that your desk is organized and bright, you can add a few items which will inspire you while you are working.
You can put quotes from your heroes and photos and artwork that represent your dreams and goals on the walls near your desk.
If you ever are stuck for ideas, you will have your own little gallery of inspiration to gaze upon.
Enjoy working in your new and beautiful workspace!
Feeling Overwhelmed? How to Make a To-Do List That Gets Done
Making a to-do list is a great way to see at a glance what you need to get accomplished in a day. 
However, some to-to lists help productivity more than others, and a bad to-do list might do more harm than good.
If you can invest a little bit of time planning out your tasks for the day in a clear and achievable list you will be able to accomplish things much more smoothly.
Here are a few ways that you can make the best to-do list possible:
- Break it down. Adding a huge task such as “clean the house” to your to-do list can overwhelm you. Divide this task into several small jobs so that you know where to start, such as “wash the dishes”, “sweep the floors”, and “vacuum the carpets.”
- Group tasks together that are located in close proximity to each other. For example, if you are driving to the shop to pick up bread and milk and you also have a package to mail you can drop it off at the post office on the way there. It is inefficient just to go out and only accomplish one task at a time.
- Prioritize the things that you need to do by urgency. This will help you know which items are more important and need to be finished first. You can create a system with colors or numbers to organize your tasks.
- If you have bumped a task from yesterday that you couldn’t get finished, this job should get a higher priority today or you will continue to put it off.
- Don’t make your to-do list so long that it is impossible to achieve in one day. This can be very demoralizing. Include small and easily checked-off tasks which will give you positive reinforcement and provide momentum.
Above all, don’t forget to include a reward at the end when you finish everything you set out to do. Whether it is going for a walk with the dog, relaxing for a while to watch your favorite show, or going out with friends, if you achieve all of the goals on your list feel free to celebrate your productive day!
Home Decor Tips for Designing a Childs Bedroom
Designing a child’s bedroom can be one of the most exciting tasks of decorating your home. You can create a fun and flexible space that your children will love to spend time in and enjoy throughout their life.
Here are some tips for parents to help with the project of decorating a room for a young child:
Involve Your Child
If your child is old enough to converse with you, have a talk with them to get their opinion on what their dream bedroom would look like. Ask them what they like about their current bedroom, and what they would change. You can also ask them about their favorite colors, animals, and storybooks to get an idea for a theme for the room.
Make a Plan
If you plan your design concept in advance, you will make the project a lot easier by having a clearer concept of what you will want the room to look like. Draw up a floor plan and identify which furnishings and decor you are going to look for. You can print off photos from the Internet and clip out pictures from magazines for inspiration.
Adapt for the Future
Remember that although your little princess is only eight now, in a few years she will be turning into a teenager and she will not want to have Disney characters plastered all over her walls and furniture. Bunk beds might seem like a great choice for your young boys but when they hit a teenage growth spurt they could be six feet tall, making these beds very impractical. Make sure that you choose furniture that will grow with your child and that the bedroom design that you decide on can be easily adapted when your child’s interests change.
Create Practical Storage Space
You can help your child keep their room tidy and reduce the number of times you have to nag them to clean up by creating lots of practical and easy to use storage space. Bookcases, drawers, desks, and closet organizers will give all toys and clothes a place to go rather than being thrown on the floor.
These are just a few tips to help you with decorating a stylish and functional bedroom for your child.
