Oh, The Places You’ll Work!
QB Community Manager Shana Niederman Shares Her Numerous Nooks
When you work for yourself, you might not have a set definition of “office.” You might do your work in an office collective, atop your sales counter, in your car or on your kitchen table. Your favorite spot might even be your bed! We thought it would be fascinating and fun to find out where you do your best work. Kicking off our series is our very own QB Community Manager, Shana Niederman.
I recently relocated from Alaska to the Pacific Northwest. I’ve worked for myself as a writer, media producer and community manager for nearly 20 years, so I needed to create a work space for myself in my new home.
My primary “office” is my dining room. I sit right in front of a large picture window overlooking my urban neighborhood. My table is a hand-me-down from a public library that runs the length of the window. Under the table is a sturdy fabric bin, which is crucial for clutter control. When I need my dining room to look like, well, a dining room, I just move all my work tools -- computer, stand, keyboard, mouse, books and so on -- into the bin and out of sight. Hey, presto! I’m dinner-party ready.
Instead of an office chair I use a 55cm exercise ball. My ball has an upholstery cover and a sticky area on the bottom that keeps it from rolling around. I love to bounce and move as I work, but I do try to keep still when I’m on a video conference call!
While you’ll often find me in my dining room, I work in other spots around my home, too. If it’s a nice day, I’ll grab my laptop and get cozy on my covered porch (you can see it there, just on the other side of the window. In fact, that’s where I am right now!). Sometimes I plunk myself down in the living room for a physical shift of position and scenery. Another bonus? I’ve noticed changing my work space helps me mentally transition from one project or task to the next.
I also love working at my local coffee shop. The short walk lets me move my body and breathe in some fresh air. When the quiet of my home feels stifling, the bubbling din at the coffee shop actually helps me focus. The owners don’t know it, but I consider them my sometimes co-workers. Plus, coffee!
I may not have an official office, but I love the flexibility of working where (and, sometimes, when) I want. I think it increases my overall productivity – and my happiness!