I found an interview with Tim Ferriss, the author of the 4 Hour Work Week, on Leo Babauta’s The Power of Less.
One of the things he mentions in this interview was very interesting – He said that he often changes his environment because it’s easier than trying to change his behaviour.
I’ve posted a little bit about trying to create a better work environment, Tim talks about how he sets up his workplace, computer and schedule in order to create the most distraction-free, productive opportunities to work.
Tim talks about trying to copy other people’s habits which allow them to write productively but found they don’t work for him. He now finds himself writing after midnight because it allows him time to work with no interruptions from phone, IM or email.
Where I work makes a difference
I have noticed that there are some occasions where things just click and I get lots of work done. It’s happened when I went to Riga and worked in a hotel lobby for a few days. It sounds like a strange, distracting place to work but the small amount of background noise and activity helped me. At home, on my own with no distractions, I thought I had a perfect environment to get things done.
What actually happened was that I’d take every chance to get up and get a drink, flick over to google reader or jump on any new email that arrived in my inbox.
I also feel that I do my best thinking when I’m pacing, so my habit at home alone is to be walking back and forth coming up with new ideas and getting things organised in my head. It’s great when I need to do some brainstorming but it’s too easy to avoid implementing things and getting real work done.
In an office with other people, a cafe or even a hotel lobby I can’t really wander around avoiding real work so that’s the kind of place I need to be working in regularly.
It’s easier to walk to someplace that enables me to get loads done than changing habits that I’ve had for years.
What’s the best place you’ve ever found for getting work done? And do you get to work there all the time?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree, change your environment. When I was in school and had to work for an upcoming midterm or final test I would find many different places to do my studying. The library, obviously, was a nice choice because they offered cubicles to sit in and concentrate. I have also found that lobbies to hotels, dorms and other places seem to be a great spot to study. They can get loud at times but if you can block these things out it is actually a nice place to sit and concentrate. If you need a break lobbies are great for this, there is usually something to watch for a minute before you are ready to start working again. Regards!
Wow, don’t you feel really angry at your parents for giving you a name like that? I assume Chicago breast cancer is your real name?
Thanks for the comment all the same
completely agree…its all about the environment! My dad wears his full baseball uniform to go see an MLB game. I know a guy who wears a tie when he is working in his home office!