How I Create Healthy Work Spaces

My productivity depends largely on what kind of work space I've created for myself. I need a certain type of environment to get all of my work done, and in grad school, that's so important to producing solid work. I split my work time between school and my apartment; while some qualities are the same for both spaces, each space has its unique aspects that enhance my productivity. 

Before I get started, if you're looking for a healthy workspace, or someone to help you create one, I highly recommend checking out this shared office space called WeWork! I found their spaces and thought I would share mine. They offer three levels of membership, and by joining, you'll get access to any of their worldwide locations and different perks and options based on your membership. With a mission to help creatives, entrepreneurs, small and even large businesses create healthy, productive work spaces that fit them, WeWork.com is your perfect resource to get started.  

I don't have a desk, so my coffee table is a makeshift workspace.

No matter where I'm working, I don't work well on an empty stomach, or a completely full stomach. If I'm starving, all I think about is what I want to eat; if I'm too full, the food coma sets in and I get tired. Healthy small meals and snacks are great for a long homework or study session. 
Some of my favorite healthy snacks are:

• Light popcorn.
• An apple and/or berries.
• Laughing Cow light cheese wedge with crackers.
• Carrots and hummus.
• Trail mix.
• Brookside dark chocolate-covered pomegranate pieces.

In addition to snacks, I love drinking tea while I work. I always keep some tea bags in my locker at school, and I try to drink a cup over my lunch break. It really helps me calm down and concentrate on my task at hand. At home, I keep a variety of tea bags and loose leaf tea. Loose leaf is so aromatic and just makes me feel so good. 

I can use my Target holiday mug year-round, right?

My favorite teas are:

• Green tea.
• Oolong tea.
• Earl Grey black tea.
• Bigelow "Constant Comment" black tea. 

Most people I know prefer to work in silence, but I just can't do it. Complete silence freaks me out a bit, so I have to have some kind of background noise. This usually comes in the form of a movie that I've seen a hundred or more times. This way, I have some noise, but I don't have to pay close attention to it or anything. It's just there! 
My favorite movies for this are:

• Pirates of the Caribbean.
• The Sound of Music.
• Harry Potter.
• Spaceballs (yeah, I know, weird).
• any of my favorite Disney classics.

Lastly, I try my very best not to overwork myself too quickly. But let's be real, that's harder than it sounds. I do well when I observe the 50/10 rule: for every 50 minutes of work, take a 10-minute break. You'd be surprised how much of a difference those 10 minutes can make! It forces me to take a breather, rest my mind and prepare for my next task. 

How do you create a healthy work space? What does your work space look like?