Office
Setup
 by Kera McHugh, of somethingelse web+graphics
I spent the afternoon today setting up a kitchen for a little café
down on the beach. My partner's mother just bought it, and it's the cutest
little thing. We doubled the size of the kitchen just by rearranging
a few things, and made it much more "ergonomic" and productive.
That got me to thinking…Offices are somewhat like kitchens. Why
not write about organizing your work space the way you'd organize a busy
kitchen. So here we go!
When you set up a kitchen, the "experts" say you need a two
step triangle - fridge, stove and sink triangulated no more than two
steps from each other - for maximum efficiency. So…applying that
to your office would mean computer/printer, supplies and daily use files
within rolling distance on your chair. Or - if you're not a technology
based worker, desk, filing cabinet/reference materials, supplies.
Keep a stock of pens, your regularly used CD's (software or music, whichever
you use more!), your stapler, hot files and notebooks on your desk within
easy reach. To your right and slightly behind, keep your supplies (or
for you lefties, keep them left and behind). I use a 4 drawer cabinet
with shelves beside it for all the basic essentials - disks, blank cd's,
colour swatches, less often used software, paper, card stock, envelopes,
reference books. Then, slightly behind to my left I have my filing rack.
I try to keep as many electronic files as possible, so I just use one
of the great little rolling wire file racks… keeps everything handy.
My printer and scanner are within arm's reach too, so I can sit here
all day without getting up, if I really want to. (Trust me, it's happened.)
I have about 8 square feet of rolling space behind my desk so it's easy
to get to everything. (People who know me will attest that I'd find stuff
more easily if I could keep it tidy… but that's another article).
The fact of the matter is - if you don't have to get up and walk somewhere
to get what you need often, you'll be able to focus better, get more
done in less time, and save wear and tear on your quadriceps by not having
to get up and down out of that chair!
The part I like best is "more done in less time" - when it's
quiet I can sometimes double my productivity because I have everything
I need. Focus is prime, and an ergonomic and handy office setup will
be worth the time to organize.
Now, get cookin'…happy triangulating!
Kera is the creator and owner of somethingelse web+graphics in the
beautiful Sunshine Coast of Canada. She does everything from websites
to print to bring her clients in the speaking and entertainment industries
integrated creative promotional materials. In her spare moments, she
tends her garden, does a little theatre and is a proud cadet mom to
her amazing teenager. Find her online at http://www.time4somethingelse.com
Free reprinting/redistribution of this article is allowed with intact
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