Insights

Effort To Minimize the Office 2014

by Chance Smith

Some of us enjoy moving items around the house or just in our office’s to experience a new beginning. Part of shifting things around just feels good. It is also helps in cleaning the area up while giving that fresh start feeling.

After reading Simplfy, right before we moved north of Jackson, TN, I was inspired to take a more minimalistic lifestyle. That is what the book is about essentially. This is one of the qoutes that motivated me the most.

“Clutter is a form of visual distraction, and everything in our vision pulls at our attention at least a little.” - JOSHUA BECKER

We are too easily distracted, right?

“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.” - JOSH BECKER

Moving was going to be hard. We were going from 3,000sqft to 1,300sqft. I had to coax my wife a little, but we were throwing away stuff like crazy. Yet, we were still holding on the the things that meant the most to us and were needed for our daily functions.

It as been 3 months since the move and I felt like the office was closing in on me and I read this post. Inspired again. If you see the pictures in the post I don’t think I can go to this extreme. Here are my efforts.

Before

cluttered office

After

simple office

Progress:

  • emptied a book shelf,removed books from under monitor, and trading them in through Amazon (23 books)
  • removed lamp from desk
  • moved paper shredder beside living room couch (really close to trash can)
  • moved headphones to closet cloths hanger
  • desk piece (where headphones were) went in back of bedroom closet

My office closets are next but this is progress I am happy with. It looks but and feels better. I now have the things I need to work and less things to distract me.