LiveWorkBalance

When speaking of setting the scene, perhaps I should talk directly about that, the setting that is.

Setting is something that can really get you to buy into something, whether that be the vast star fields of a science fiction movie, the epic landscapes (of New Zealand) in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the majestic period ships of movies like Master and Commander or the Pirates of the Caribbean or the sweeping historical cityscapes of Europe seen in a multitude of movies. All of these things further reinforce the action on screen, in the game, or the performance in front of you.

So to help yourself buy in to whatever you’re working on, whether that is the day to day actions of your job, or making or breaking a habit, develop your “setting” so that it’s reinforcing the message, not competing with it.

I’ll take a look at several ways you can do this, from the small to the large. If there’s anything you think I miss, let us know in the comments!

The details

As the quote famously says, “God is in the details.” When trying to align the setting with your goals, this is sometimes the easiest place to start. If you’re trying to work on focus, decluttering, whether it be the desk right in front of you, your computer desktop (I actually have NO icons on my work computer desktop, just some nice calming scenes) or the wall behind your monitor (trust me, that can be a big deal) making these small changes can help focus. Likewise, if you’re trying to remind yourself to get to the gym, place small reminders where they’ll have an impact, like leaving your gym bag next to your briefcase, the sticky-note on your screen, or the outfit you’re trying to fit into on your closet door, these details can impact your thoughts and make it a little easier to get moving on that change you’ve been wanting to make.

The room

If you’ve already made the changes in the details, and you find things have plateaued, you may need to make the change a little larger. If you’re working from home, and have been co-opting the dining room table for your office, this can be difficult to maintain the work mindset for a long period of time, not to mention, get in that frame of mind in the first place. Thus, taking the time to set up a work-focused office in the house can give you the space you need to attain some of that focus, and stop you from subconsciously fighting yourself.

At work, or in other environments where you might not have the same control over the facility, you might not be able to do as much, but there’s nothing to say you can’t talk to your employer or do a little decorating of your own (provided its within the guidelines) to help make your space more conducive to your working style. Whether it is as simple as hanging a few pictures, rearranging your desk, or moving around some furniture, you might be surprised the difference it can make for comfort and productivity, two big components to streamlining work and keeping things balanced.

The venue

There are other times where just changing the layout of your workspace isn’t going to cut it. You’ve hit a mental rut, or are tired of staring at the same four walls every day. All the new furniture or art isn’t going to change a thing.

When you’ve hit this point, it might be time for a change in venue. This could be as simple as grabbing a few files and booking yourself a conference room for the afternoon, or taking your laptop to the park or a coffee shop. Sure, this doesn’t work for everyone, or you might not have the flexibility at all times, but if you’ve found that you are caught in a loop, sometimes the change in venue can be what you need to get the hamster back on the wheel.

The world

I’m not saying the next step is booking yourself a nice space tourism trip to the International Space Station, but sometimes the shift you need to make is a little larger. Whether it’s finding a new job, a new house, or making the move to a new town, for some people and in some situations, a much larger, more fundamental change is needed. This is obviously the riskiest, most disruptive and most expensive of the options, but at the same time, if it’s what you need to really get the start you desire, then maybe that’s what needs to be done.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and it’s important to note that you might not need to make the full progression, but if you’ve been trying to find ways to increase your own buy in, controlling your environment and setting the stage properly can really reinforce your message to yourself and others.

What else have you found that works for you? Any tips to share? If so, drop me an email or leave a comment.

Cheers,

Adam