The Musings Of A Caged Bird

While sitting in my hotel room working on my next article for IF, I started to feel uneasy. As I proofread the last few lines that I wrote, I realized that my writing reflected this mood. The words sounded forced as if I were trying too hard to prove my point.

I took a break from writing and walked downstairs to the lobby. Immediately, I arrived at several conclusions that I was struggling with in my room. I was sure that there was an explanation for this phenomenon and returned to my room to scour the Internet.

My research uncovered an interesting article about a first grade teacher named Gayle Roberts from Louisiana. In the article, Gayle claims that by reorganizing her classroom, her students paid more attention. Designers have applied similar techniques when designing retail stores for years but the effects on scholastic performance were quite interesting. You can read more about Gayle’s project at Responsive Classroom.

With my new understanding of space and concentration, I took an objective look at my room. I now saw how cluttered and confining the room actually was. There were two beds (one unmade), a half unpacked suitcase, and a random chair with matching ottoman. The worst piece was the armoire in the center of the room looming over my desk.

So break down your cubicle walls, open a few windows and throw out that massive file cabinet. An open workspace creates an open mind.