When writing, it’s important to make sure your desk is set up in a way that eliminates distractions and promotes productivity – especially if you work a full-time job on top of writing. When I sit down for a writing session, my main goal is to remain seated at my desk and avoid unnecessary distractions. How do I do this? By prepping my desk for productivity a few minutes before I get started. In this blog post, I’ll share my secrets to how I create a productive workspace.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Coffee + Coaster
First thing’s first! I get a drink. Most days this drink is coffee while other days it’s tea, orange juice, water, or a glass of wine depending on my writing mood. One thing I make sure I ALWAYS have is a coaster. I’m clumsy (to say the least) and would have hundreds of water rings on my desk by now if it weren’t for coasters. As long as I have a coaster, I can avoid getting up to fetch paper towels to clean up the mess on the bottom of my coffee mug or glass (in most cases. Sometimes I spill my coffee which can lead to tears, a plethora of paper towels, and homemade cleaner).
Here is my favorite mug and coasters!
Lotion + Lip Balm
Next up is lotion and lip balm! These are essentials, especially during the winter when my skin easily dries out in -15ºF weather (gotta love South Dakota winters).
Here is my favorite lotion and lip balm!
Candles
Every time I sit down to write, I light a scented candle (usually vanilla or something warm & cozy). Studies show that if you associate certain scents, sights, tastes, etc., with a specific task, these senses will help you get into a flow state faster. In other words, lighting a candle can help you stay inspired and productive.
Here is my favorite vanilla candle, cedar magnolia candle, and amber candle!
Highlighters + Pens
Even though I type my novels, I always find myself needing a pen for something – making a list, planning out my writing for the day, or trying to figure out how to fix a gaping plot hole. When revising and editing, I write and highlight my manuscript with no mercy with the intention of going back and making changes in my computer. Highlighters allow me to color code and make my job 100% easier than if I simply wrote with a black (or even red) pen.
Here are my favorite highlighters and pens!
Blue Light Glasses
Let’s face it! Staring at a computer screen for hours on end takes a huge toll on our eyes. It starts with a little soreness and then explodes into a painful migraine that can last for days. When I first heard about blue light glasses, I didn’t think they’d make a difference. After buying my first pair 4 years ago, I’ve only had 1-2 headaches caused by eyestrain (I was working 12+ hour days for a week. Even blue light glasses can’t prevent eye strain from that amount of screen time). While blue light glasses don’t eliminate 100% of eye strain, they do drastically cut back on the amount of time it takes for your eyes to get fatigued. Less eye fatigue means more time to be productive!
Here are my favorite blue light glasses! If you need a prescription, Zenni Optical has cheap options as well 🙂
Printer + Printables
I’ve used my printer weekly since buying it. I love being able to make my own printable templates on Canva and being able to print them at home. There are plenty of free printables online along with a vast assortment on Etsy which can be purchased for only a couple dollars. If you struggle with staying organized, you might want to look in to this option. It can be life changing!
Here’s a link to my personal printer and to my Etsy shop! Here’s a free 30 day trial for Canva Pro (only for people who haven’t used the trial before).
Pomodoro Timer
I absolutely love the Pomodoro method when it comes to work, writing, and studying. The most common Pomodoro session is 25 minutes of work followed by a 5 minute break. After 4 sessions, there’s typically a longer break lasting anywhere between 10-20 minutes. There are physical Pomodoro cubes you can have on your desk or you can hop onto YouTube and search for playlists with a Pomodoro timer (my favorites are the Gilmore Girl – Study with Rory playlists).
Here’s the link to a Pomodoro cube and the link to my favorite playlist!
What do you do to create a productive work environment?
Let me know how you stay productive in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this blog post, you might like my post “4 Ways to Get Inspiration for Your Novel.“
