My analog and digital workspace
It is critical to have a place where we can be alone while concentrating on our work. A haven where no one can interfere with our creative endeavors. The problem is that computers are frequently the hearts of our offices and we spend most of our time in front of the screen. Until recently, this was also true for me. But, over the last year or so, I've been introducing some changes in this regard.
In her book The Crossroads of Should and Must. Find and Follow Your Passion, this is how Elle Luna describes a computer as a tool:
Similarly, perhaps I illustrated a process from time to time, or used sticky notes to remember ideas or make to-do lists. Other stationery that I could use to enhance my output was tucked away in drawers. It wasn't until I began exploring my creativity that I realized how important it was for me to have a place where I could work in an analog way, away from distractions and the temptations of the Internet.
The first real steps I took after reading Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist, specifically how important it is to return to working with your hands, just like when we were kids. It's a wonderful experience to be able to touch what you've just created, which a computer cannot provide. This is also one of the reasons I like typewriters so much: the progress feels tangible. He proposes the following system:
It is important that the analogue space is associated with fun, colors, and even a slight creative disorder. This is a place that doesn't have to be clean and tidy, if that's what you prefer. This is a place where we can make a little mess, stain the countertop with glue or markers. When was the last time you used scissors and glue or felt-tip pens to create something?
My analog workspace began as a place where I kept my typewriters. I would frequently write there first, then edit and publish the text on my computer afterward. After moving apartments recently, I now have another analog desk that my husband built for me, which I use mainly for drawing and crafts. There is always a supply of paper and index cards, as well as other stationery on display. And a cutting mat that says it's okay to be a little messy and careless on.
My workspace is designed so that I can freely switch between the analog and digital desks, eliminating friction between my will and action when I want to create. So far, it's been working great.
