Why Aren't You Using Your Space?

We All Have Spaces We Don’t Make Full Use Of

I would imagine that many of you, like me, have a space that you just don’t use. You meant well, but you just tend to ignore it. For me, it’s my desk area. I have a desk set up, with a file cabinet and shelving, etc. And I never, ever use it. I end up on the couch, or the bed, or pretty much anywhere but the desk.

There’s usually some reason we find ourselves avoiding spaces like this, and sometimes it’s not even a big thing – just a little tweak. Typically something about the space isn’t comfortable or isn’t aesthetically pleasing to us, so we just subconsciously stay away. Sometimes it’s tricky determining what the problem is – I’ve been in this house for five years and tried a variety of things, but I still don’t use my desk – but sometimes it’s just a matter of sitting down for a few minutes to think about it.

For example, I discovered that my desk area in our last house was inefficient because I had it set up backward. I work from left-to-right, and the space was set up from right-to-left (inbox on the right, file cabinet on the left, etc.). So the “flow” of my movement was all interrupted. I switched everything around and with just that simple reversal, found myself comfortably, regularly, using the desk!

Brainstorm Potential Problems

So take a few minutes, grab a pen and paper or a note-taking app or a blank Word document or something, and think about what might not be working in the space. Don’t worry about whether it seems like a “big deal” or not. Remember what I said about “little tweaks”? Sometimes something as simple as “I hate the color of the walls” is enough to make you not want to spend time somewhere.

A few ideas of things to consider (although if you come up with others, by all means, write them down!):

Is the lighting adequate?
Is the lighting too bright, or too direct?
Is the seating, or the floor you stand on, too hard?
Is too hard to access?
Is it ugly?
Is it cluttered? (Or does it look cluttered? Too many colors/patterns competing for attention in the same space can create visual clutter even if there isn’t any actual clutter.)
Is it too cold?
Is it too hot?
Is the work surface (desk/table/counter/etc.) too high or too low?
Is the seating too high or too low?
Is it missing some essential tool(s)?
Are the tools hard to use? (A stapler that always jams, file cabinet drawers you have to fight to open, etc.)
Do you require power that isn’t present? (Lacking necessary phone/cable jacks or outlets.)
Is it too quiet?
Is it too noisy?
Is it too much in the middle of the hustle and bustle of things?
Is it too far away from everything else?
Is the workflow wrong? (Top-to-bottom when you need bottom-to-top? Left-to-right when you need right-to-left? Stacks when you work well with files or vice versa? etc.)

It might sound kind of crazy to list so many opposites, but there’s good reason for that. For one thing, everyone has different preferences. For another, your needs might vary from space to space or season to season. One mom might need her office space in the middle of the activity hub of the home so she can keep an eye on the kids. Another might need it away from all of this so she can focus.

This isn’t just about office space, though. Although some spaces – like your kitchen or bathroom – can’t be moved around at will, there are things you have control over. Do you have a really nice laundry room but never fold the laundry in there? Why not? Maybe you you always fold clothes on the couch or a bed – because you prefer a lower folding surface.

Can You Fix It?

Now think through each item you listed and ask yourself if it’s something you can fix. Some things you might be able to fix right away – like rearranging furniture. Others you might have to plan ahead for – like purchasing a new lamp or having an extra outlet installed. Some things you might not be able to fix at all, but I’m willing to be that there are more things you can fix (either now or at some point in the future) than things you can’t, in most instances.

If you’re not sure, make your best guess, try a free or inexpensive fix, and see if it helps. If not, keep thinking. (I don’t mean to obsess over it constantly until you figure it out. I just mean don’t give up on the first try; keep revisiting it periodically until you solve the puzzle.)