Three Ways To Set Up Your Desk

By Lev Novak

So you’ve got a desk going. Congratulations. I’m proud of you.

I come from a long tradition of desks. I write at one, I went to school at one, and I dated one briefly in high-school. But a desk is much more than a plank you write at: it’s a shrine to your laptop, a home within your home, and a reflection of infinite possibilities.

Dramatic? Sure. But we’re going to do this regardless.

1. Consider A Standing Desk

Standing is better for you than sitting. All in moderation, of course, so balance it all, but if you find yourself sitting to write, or to Facebook, or listen to music, consider that standing during the same actions might be better.

So what do you do?

A standing desk.

You can put tons of books under your laptop, or you can make your desk higher, or you can even buy a desk with flexible height for this exact purpose. If you’re spending tons of time at your computer, you may as well have a smug thing to brag about/ possibly be healthier because of it.

At the very least, you’ll feel less gross during your next Netflix binge. And it discourages binge wasting of time on the internet!

Wait, where’s my standing desk?

2. Keep Your Desk Reflective Of Your Habits

A neat person? You want a neat desk.

Messy or scatterbrained? Embrace the messy desk lifestyle. Sure it’s cluttered, but it’s cluttered with you- your ideas, homework, dreams and snacks. Enjoy. It’s an extension of you.

Your desk should reflect you and your style, but it should also encourage your best self. If you drink while writing like a Hemingway, keep the bottle in the kitchen. Repouring is too easy on the desk. Hide your pipe or cigarettes if applicable- leaving them on your desk makes them too easy and routine.

When your desk is done properly, it will be full of good options. Water, a coffee, a healthy snack, ideas and notes of projects, a pen, paper, your phone, and whatever else you want to be using.

Just be aware that if it’s on your desk, it will leak into your mind. Consider keeping your (clean) workout clothes in the distant corner to remind you of the world beyond your laptop.

3. Get Your Chi On

Does your desk face your window? Does it receive natural light? Is it crammed in the corner or a focal point of the room, even when faced against the wall? Is it near your bed? Your door? Do you have to maneuver awkwardly to get in or out, or is it a seamless transition from place to place in your room?

Consider the desk’s structure in your apartment. Maybe natural light would make writing at home feel that more exciting. Maybe if it were easier to get seated you’d be more encouraged to get going- or if it was a standing desk, you’d be less inclined to waste time on Facebook.

Whatever it is, your desk location can be as big a part of the desk as the desk itself. And if there’s no good spot in your apartment for a productive desk, well, get a new apartment.

We know a guy.

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