My Minimalist Workspace

My Minimalist Workspace Although I dont have a daily routine, I spend most mornings in solitude, writing at my deskâ€"my minimalist workspace. The picture above is what my desk looks like every day. (No, I didnt tidy-up before taking the  photo.) Much  like other aspects of my life, minimalism has allowed me get rid of the unnecessary and keep the essential. Thus, my desk contains only what I need to work. My work is writing. To write, I need a computer, a word-processing program, a chair, a pen, a notebook, and a lamp (because I usually get started before first light). A cup of coffee or glass of water is optional. Eliminating the Unnecessary I used to lie to myself. I used to think I needed so much more to be productive.  I used to think I needed an Internet connection and a clock on the wall and a bookshelf brimming with books and a file cabinet and file folders and three-ring binders and a scanner and a stapler and a desk calendar and a white board and a cork board and an office-supplies organizer containing paperclips and thumbtacks and pens and highlighters and notecards and Post-its and many, many other things. But over time I realized I didnt need those things. So I stripped them away, one thing at a time, until I was left with what I have now. And who knows: perhaps one day Ill get rid of my notebook or my printed notes. Or perhaps Ill add an item or twoâ€"if it adds value to what Im doing. I still have some office supplies, but only what fits in my single drawer. I dont need to use them every day, so I keep them out of the way so I can focus on whats important, urgent, now. The point is not to toss everything. Rather, the point is to get rid of the superfluous in favor of the essential. Doing so eliminates unwanted stress, allows us to avoid distractions, and helps us focus on  the work at hand. So, even when  your work requires more paperwork or certain tools to accomplish your tasks, its still important to ask  whether  everything in the  workspace is necessary. An Experiment As a experiment, why not give this a shot: get rid of everything today (box it up or simply get it out of the way), then slowly reintroduce items to your workspace as needed over the next few days. Then get rid of anything you didnt reintroduceâ€"anything you dont use this week. Its like having a miniature Packing Party for your workspace. Are you willing to experiment? If you find value in The Minimalists, consider donating a dollar.