WORK AND STUDY TIP: CREATE A SPACE

You will never regret creating time and space for yourself or your child to work productively and uninterrupted.

During my doctoral program, I was told that when it comes to working hard in academia (and in life), "It's not the brain in the head; it's the butt in the chair." It seems crass, I know. And it is not my intention to belittle anyone's work at the doctoral level. However, at some point, it all comes down to actually doing the work. (It makes perfect sense if you think about it!)

During my (aforementioned) doctoral program, I had a LONG home stretch. As a long-time educator, I had given advice to countless parents of homework-laden middle schoolers. The importance of creating routines for time and space to work each and every day was a universal conversation with most of my students. Thinking I might benefit from following the same (sage) advice, I ran off to IKEA during a fit of writer's block and bought myself a tiny desk. Then, I went to Homegoods and bought a cozy chair. (I also stopped by Target and got a new candle, pen, and pack of Post-its, to further prolong the inevitable.) Armed with my new office, I headed home, plopped my butt in that chair, and cleared my schedule for several days. 

The rest is history. 

While I don't recommend a shopping spree to overcome writer's block, homework angst, and the stress of work deadlines, I do think we all need a little workspace in our lives.