There are quite a few things I think I need in order to work well and efficiently. Though... possibly the efficiency could be called into question.
Either way, I want to share five things you will always find on my desk in excess. Because I need them, people. I NEED them.
1. Pens, pens, and more pens!
Pens are essential to my very nerdy way of life. Why? Because I write a lot of things down. And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT.
Sure, computers with word processors make life a whole lot easier. But there is something almost therapeutic about putting a pen to paper. I also find that I remember things a lot better when I actually physically write them down than when I type them up. I am a kinesthetic learner as well as a visual one, so when I combine the seeing of the words with the actual forming of the words on the page by my hand, I am can regurgitate the information nearly word-for-word later. I also keep half a dozen of these bad boys in my purse, because I never know when I or someone else may need one.
2. Lots and lots of note pads.
Because my life isn't always efficient and it gets very messy sometimes. I often have my life scattered around my apartment and mixed up with my sister's. There is no clear-cut, completely organized part of my life. ... Except my bookshelves. Because I am obsessive about my books.
But if you step into my room you will realize two things: a. I have at least half a dozen projects I am working on, some of which involve writing. b. I do not have time for all of these projects, let alone time to organize all of them. You will discover that I have two or three very well organized, while the rest will be scattered about in piles on the floor and the desk. Usually they involve a good number of books that I am reading and/or studying.
So I have a lot of note pads because note pads keep me from losing my mind. Anything I have to remember (which is quite a bit on any given day), and that I might forget (which is just about everything that is important on any given day), I scribble down on a notepad. I also have a calendar on my phone that I use quite frequently. But for grocery lists and to-do lists, I have my trusty note pads.
3. Notebooks.
These are not the same as note pads. Note pads keep my life organized. Notebooks keep my projects organized. They are the organization that needs to happen within the organization, if you will. And yes, I don't keep them as well as I should. I have at least a decade's worth of notebooks stashed in my desk, and I pull them out whenever I'm feeling particularly nostalgic. Or if ever I want a good laugh, because reading my ten-year-old self's work is pretty hilarious, and not because she was particularly good at writing.
4. At least one mug.
Usually there's more than one at a given time (at this point you all are probably wondering, "how big is this girl's desk?"), and usually at least one of them is filled with tea. My happy place is my desk, and an essential part of making my happy place happy is the consumption of tea by me. Any time. All the time. Because. Tea.
I also have several boxes of tea stashed in random nooks and corners of my desk, in case of emergencies (people, it's not that big of a desk, I promise!).
5. Books.
I have them on my desk, under my desk, on the little slide-out calendar-holder (no, I don't put a calendar on it. Who needs calendars anyways? They just take up unnecessary space for, y'know, BOOKS). I have books I'm studying for, well, whatever I am studying at the moment (right now it's counseling), I have books friends have given me that are old and wonderful and I want around simply because they make me happy. I have books that I am reading for personal devotions, and books that I am reading just for fun. I read. A LOT. And before you question my definition of "a lot", let me clarify: Reading six books at the same time is normal for me. Right now I'm averaging eight. And no, I don't understand that whole "one at a time" thing - I never really figured it out and it seems awfully dull for my hyperactive mind. But that is just how my brain works. I sometimes envy those who can sit down and read one book at a time, because it is so very orderly and methodical. I try to be orderly and methodical, and then I look at my shelves and all the beautiful books I could be reading...
And "orderly" is thrown out the window.
Well, there you have it! These five must-haves for my desk are what make it an efficient workspace for me. What are your five things that you must have on your desk?
Either way, I want to share five things you will always find on my desk in excess. Because I need them, people. I NEED them.
1. Pens, pens, and more pens!
Pens are essential to my very nerdy way of life. Why? Because I write a lot of things down. And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT.
Sure, computers with word processors make life a whole lot easier. But there is something almost therapeutic about putting a pen to paper. I also find that I remember things a lot better when I actually physically write them down than when I type them up. I am a kinesthetic learner as well as a visual one, so when I combine the seeing of the words with the actual forming of the words on the page by my hand, I am can regurgitate the information nearly word-for-word later. I also keep half a dozen of these bad boys in my purse, because I never know when I or someone else may need one. 2. Lots and lots of note pads.
Because my life isn't always efficient and it gets very messy sometimes. I often have my life scattered around my apartment and mixed up with my sister's. There is no clear-cut, completely organized part of my life. ... Except my bookshelves. Because I am obsessive about my books.
But if you step into my room you will realize two things: a. I have at least half a dozen projects I am working on, some of which involve writing. b. I do not have time for all of these projects, let alone time to organize all of them. You will discover that I have two or three very well organized, while the rest will be scattered about in piles on the floor and the desk. Usually they involve a good number of books that I am reading and/or studying.So I have a lot of note pads because note pads keep me from losing my mind. Anything I have to remember (which is quite a bit on any given day), and that I might forget (which is just about everything that is important on any given day), I scribble down on a notepad. I also have a calendar on my phone that I use quite frequently. But for grocery lists and to-do lists, I have my trusty note pads.
3. Notebooks.
These are not the same as note pads. Note pads keep my life organized. Notebooks keep my projects organized. They are the organization that needs to happen within the organization, if you will. And yes, I don't keep them as well as I should. I have at least a decade's worth of notebooks stashed in my desk, and I pull them out whenever I'm feeling particularly nostalgic. Or if ever I want a good laugh, because reading my ten-year-old self's work is pretty hilarious, and not because she was particularly good at writing.
4. At least one mug.
Usually there's more than one at a given time (at this point you all are probably wondering, "how big is this girl's desk?"), and usually at least one of them is filled with tea. My happy place is my desk, and an essential part of making my happy place happy is the consumption of tea by me. Any time. All the time. Because. Tea.I also have several boxes of tea stashed in random nooks and corners of my desk, in case of emergencies (people, it's not that big of a desk, I promise!).
5. Books.
I have them on my desk, under my desk, on the little slide-out calendar-holder (no, I don't put a calendar on it. Who needs calendars anyways? They just take up unnecessary space for, y'know, BOOKS). I have books I'm studying for, well, whatever I am studying at the moment (right now it's counseling), I have books friends have given me that are old and wonderful and I want around simply because they make me happy. I have books that I am reading for personal devotions, and books that I am reading just for fun. I read. A LOT. And before you question my definition of "a lot", let me clarify: Reading six books at the same time is normal for me. Right now I'm averaging eight. And no, I don't understand that whole "one at a time" thing - I never really figured it out and it seems awfully dull for my hyperactive mind. But that is just how my brain works. I sometimes envy those who can sit down and read one book at a time, because it is so very orderly and methodical. I try to be orderly and methodical, and then I look at my shelves and all the beautiful books I could be reading...
And "orderly" is thrown out the window.
Well, there you have it! These five must-haves for my desk are what make it an efficient workspace for me. What are your five things that you must have on your desk?
I don't read one book at a time either. Right now I'm at 8 too :) as far as the desk question I sit at a desk so much at work that I never want to use one when I'm home so all of my reading and writing happens on various chairs and couches through out the apt.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand that! I am on my feet all day, so it's kind of nice to sit down to work sometimes. But when I was in school I spent most of my studying time sprawled on the floor or all over the couch for the same reason. XD And yay for someone else who reads multiple books at a time! 8 at a time is very reasonable, I think. :)
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