Although coworking spaces are now more popular than ever, some people are still hesitant about making the switch because of how impersonal a shared desk can sometimes feel. Hot desking comes with so many benefits, but the lack of permanence from using a different desk each day can mean that your workspace never really feels like your own.
This, however, is an easy problem to overcome. Read on as Circle Hub shares X things that you can do to personalize a shared desk so that you feel well and truly at home there.
1) Add a Couple of Framed Photos or Pieces of Artwork
One of the easiest ways to add a personal touch to a shared desk is to put up a couple of framed photos of your loved ones. Whether it be family members, friends, or even pets, these images will act as a constant reminder of your deeper values and your motivation for working in the first place! Interestingly, some studies also show that having photos of your loved ones nearby while you’re working will make you a more ethical person.
If personal photos aren’t your style, artwork is a good alternative. Viewing art throughout the day can have an uplifting effect. It boosts creativity, focus, and productivity while reducing mental stress. Artwork that depicts the natural world tends to do this best, particularly pieces that are moderately visually complex. Over-complexity and under-complexity can both have a negative effect on your mood, making it important to choose your pieces wisely!
2) Bring Some Nature With You
While artwork that depicts nature can give you a significant overall boost, bringing some actual nature into your workspace can do this even more. This is why many offices, both traditional offices and coworking spaces, try to incorporate greenery into their decor. Plants have a calming effect on the mind, lowering tension and stress to create a happier working environment.
Placing one or two potted plants on your shared desk can enhance this effect, putting you in even closer proximity to nature. With that said, you’ll need to be careful about the plants that you choose. They shouldn’t be too intrusive or overbearing for the other people working around you. Instead, a small, compact, and low-maintenance plant will bring you the benefits of nature without interfering with anyone else’s workday. Consider options like succulents or snake plants.
3) Quirky Stationery Adds a Personal Touch
Usually, when you work at a shared desk, you’ll need to bring your own stationery with you. While there’s nothing wrong with using generic pens, notebooks, and other such items, going for quirkier versions will help to inject some personality into your workday.
Personalizing your environment in this way to make it more fun can have an inspiring effect on your mind. With just this one simple move, you’ll find yourself getting more creative and coming up with ideas that are more innovative. Your shared desk will also feel more inviting, giving you a sense of comfort that leaves you feeling happier and less likely to experience burnout.
4) Book Your Favorite Desk in Advance
When working in a hot desking setup at a coworking space (known as Hot Spots at Circle Hub), you’ll be able to choose which shared desk you use each day. Of course, availability plays a part in this, meaning that you could end up sitting at a different desk each day.
This isn’t usually an issue, although sometimes, you may find that you favor one desk over another. Be it because of its window views, its seclusion in a quiet corner, or anything else, you may end up feeling disappointed when you turn up to your coworking space to find that ‘your’ desk is taken.
Some coworking spaces offer a solution to this. At Circle Hub, it’s known as our Designated Desk system. If you find a desk that you prefer over others, you can use this system to reserve your desk in advance, for whichever days and times you plan on using it. Having regular access to your favorite desk will quickly start making that space feel more like your own.
5) Keep a Couple of Snacks Within Reach
Love snacking while you work? While some people may deem this to be a distraction, the steady intake of nutrients that you’ll be getting throughout the day with regular healthy snacks can help to maintain focus and concentration. You’ll also have a steadier flow of energy, avoiding the afternoon slump that many experience.
This is why, at Circle Hub, we have a kitchen area for our members to use. However, if you’d like to snack without actually leaving your shared desk, keeping some healthy snacks within reach will not only curb any hunger pangs but will also make your desk feel more like your own.
6) Personalize Your Laptop’s Background and Screensaver
Most people who use a shared desk bring a laptop with them. After all, in this day and age, it’s difficult to get work done without one!
While many use the generic background and screensaver that their laptops came with, personalizing this will also add a personal touch to your shared desk. Depending on the images you pick, you could also give your creativity and productivity a boost, just like carefully-chosen artwork can. Ideally, keep it simple and soothing, opting for images that mean something to you and that reflect your goals or values.
7) Music Can Give You a Boost
If you’re new to using a shared desk, you may initially find it tricky to block out the environment around you and focus on your work. Music can help with this, wrapping you in a comforting cocoon that immediately makes the space you’re working in feel more like your own. Music can also activate certain brain networks, giving you a surge of motivation and focus.
Of course, you’ll need to be mindful of everyone else around you, meaning that headphones are a must. Pick your tunes carefully, too. A moderate tempo and a simple melody will give you a boost without being so complex that it ends up a distraction.
8) Brighten Your Desk Up
There’s a lot to be said for lighting. Many don’t realize just how influential this can be. With good lighting directly affecting everything from productivity and mood to overall well-being, it’s essential. This is why a good coworking space, like Circle Hub, will offer shared workspaces that are flooded with natural lighting.
However, if you’d like a bit extra, bringing in a small desk lamp will not only brighten up your space even more, but will also make your shared desk feel more homely. Again, this is something else that could technically bother the people around you, so don’t bring in a tall lamp that casts its light over all of the desks that surround you. Instead, a small lamp that illuminates just your desk will provide enough of an impact for you to reap its rewards.
9) A Cushion or Blanket Adds a Cozy Vibe
While a good coworking space will provide ergonomic chairs and desks, all of that identical furniture lined up in rows can feel a little sterile. One way to add a cozy vibe to your own shared desk is to soften things up with a cushion or blanket.
Both will make your workday feel much more comfortable. Comfort means that you’ll be able to focus better, increasing productivity. Cushions can provide additional benefits, helping to support the curves of your spine and relieving back pain. Your shared desk will suddenly feel much more welcoming, especially if you plan on spending several hours there.
10) A Mug With Personality
It’s so important to keep your body hydrated throughout the day. This is why, at Circle Hub, we offer complimentary beverages to all of our members. You’ll be able to get your caffeine fix whenever you need it, without having to leave the building.
Once you take your mug of coffee back to your shared desk, that mug becomes a part of the working ambience you’ve created. A plain and boring mug won’t really add anything, whereas a mug with personality could make all the difference. In the same way that artwork, photos, and personalized stationery can add character and a homely vibe to your shared desk, a quirky mug will provide those extra touches as well.
11) Look for an Aesthetically Pleasing Desk Calendar
Do you often use the calendar app on your devices to schedule your day? While being able to sync your appointments and tasks can be useful, going back to basics with a traditional desk calendar is another way to make your shared desk feel more like your own.
It goes without saying that you’ll need one that appeals to you aesthetically if you want it to add a pop of color and life to your desk. However, a desk calendar will help with time management too. You’ll have a constant visual overview of your tasks, which can be helpful when it comes to organization and meeting deadlines.
12) Books Provide Visual Interest and a Mental Break
Last but not least, let’s talk about books. If you’re an avid reader, you probably have a good collection of books at home. Placing one or two of them on your shared desk is a great way to bring the relaxing vibe that they provide to your workspace.
As an added bonus, when your brain needs a break from work, you’ll be able to reach for a book and take a mental breather. Not only will your books give your desk some extra visual interest, but they’re a productive yet relaxing way to spend a break, too.
Summary
As you can see, there are so many ways in which you can make a shared desk your own. It’s important to be mindful of those around you while also adhering to the rules of your coworking space, but there are still plenty of steps that you can take to add some personality to your shared workspace, which will give you a boost in other ways, too!