Your workstation impacts your creative thinking

Do you remember those viral posts on Facebook back in 2010 telling you that messy desk is a sign of a creative mind? I’ve lost count on how many times that image showed up in my feed. Lord have mercy, it’s been a while.

But let’s have a talk about working environments, though.

Some of you might have already noticed, or maybe not, that the room and your workstation have a massive impact on your performance. It’s not just about noise, people yelling and being obnoxious (if you work in the office, of course). It’s mostly about what you are surrounding yourself with.

Everybody is different and reacts to different things. Some people can straight ignore the mess and be the most productive person on this planet… If that’s you, congrats, feel free to move along while I lowkey hate you.

For the rest of us, listen, it matters. A lot. Curating your space and making it not just functional, but genuinely inspiring plays a huge role in how your brain and how your creativity flows.

I’ve spent years trying to find the right setup, but I’ve often been significantly limited by a couple of factors, the main one being: lack of space. I live in a small studio apartment where every inch has to be carefully considered to avoid clutter and, inevitably, cognitive overload. To me, cognitive overload means spiraling and throwing hands with anxiety, I don’t know about you…

This is how it looks now:

I’m very pleased with the results, even though I still dream of a big, adjustable desk. You know, the kind you can lift into a standing position or adjust to your sitting height.

Let me walk you through my thought process of setting this up.

First and foremost, I asked myself what actually brings me joy? I basically Marie Kondo’d my way through my belongings and focused only on things that I love and that inspire me on a daily basis.

The first answer to this question was: obviously books. Design books, to be specific. Yes, it’s cliché, but I’ve always dreamed of my own little Art & Design library. Right now, I only have 11 books, and this is the exact moment in which I’m telling you: no, you don’t need any of them. Books are fucking expensive, and I’d much rather see you spending that money on whole foods than on a single expensive object. If you do have the budget, though… great. Buy whatever inspires or teaches you something.
For me, holding something physical matters, even if most of my work lives digitally. That tangible connection sparks something in my brain. For you, it might also be a book, or maybe magazines, or a stack of leaflets you’ve collected over the years, posters, prints… Anything visual that makes you feel something.

Next up: trinkets. Your favourite little objects matter more than you think. Mine are all tied to beautiful and positive memories: a ceramic pine cone from Sicily, a black skull candle, small rocks and crystals, tarot decks, a little pumpkin keychain that my partner gave me last year… All of these things are tide to a specific memory that warms my little heart. Think about your trinkets and bring them to your desk. Just don’t turn it into a shrine.

I know you forget to open your dusty and crusty windows every day… Get at least a hard-to-kill plant. You need oxygen, and your eyes need a break.

My plant of choice is sansevieria. I’ve had photos before, but that evergreen menace grows like it owns the place. Sanseveria on that front is definitely space friendly and more respectful.

It wouldn’t be a working station without your stationary of choice. I always keep four notebooks around: 2 plain ones for sketching and brain-dumping, 1 for journaling and 1 for daily planning and reflection. Pens, pencils and pastel highlights are also a must for me. You do you, hun. Find the stationery that you enjoy and that you will actually be using on a daily basis.

I will skip hardware on purpose. It’s personal, and I don’t want to push anyone into buying expensive tech. The only thing I’ll recommend is a large monitor if you can afford it. If that’s off of your cards at the moment, then don’t worry about it. Budget your money however you please! My personal splurge was definitely Mac Mini and… a gaming keyboard. Judge me ‘til the end of times, but that clickety-clicky sound and the rainbow LEDs do something to my brain that I cannot even explain.

Last but not least: lightning. Choose lightning that works for you. Personally, I don’t need a Point Sur lighthouse on my desk. A basic desk LED lamp with a warm bulb is doing the job for me. When I’m doing analog work, I would simply switch the overhead lights. The warmth of my desk lamp, though, is very important because I fucking HATE cold lightning. It reminds me of hospitals and surgery rooms I’ve been in twice, and no thanks. Warm light, to me, feels safe and calming. To bring even more joy to my desk, I added a short strain of fairy lights. Another must, if you ask me.

To wrap this up… Build and curate your work station around your needs. Ignore influencers trying to sell you Amazon junk. It’s not about what you should buy.
Your space it’s only yours and its purpose is to make you feel safe and inspired. It’s extremely personal, and what I did here was just to showcase what worked for me.

Now, close your eyes and think about your dream setup and what could actually help you being calm in the mind, light in the heart, and productive in your soul. Your vision can become reality, even on a budget or little to no money.

Whatever your desk is or will be looking like, remember, it doesn’t define whether or not you’re a creative person. It absolutely can impact your mood and performance, but hey, once born an artist, always an artist. Even if we grit our teeth.

PS. Keep it tidy. Clutter breeds anxiety, and anxiety kills creativity and productivity. Although, if your desk is squicky clean and only your laptop sits on top, reflecting cold overhead lights, then probably you’re a little psycho and I’m scared of you…

This entry has been written without any AI aid.