Through some unusual circumstances, on Wednesday I found myself working for about five hours in the beautiful Rose Main Reading Room in the Andrew Schwarzman New York Public Library. Something about being in a place dedicated to reading–whether for research or pleasure or both–made me appreciate all over again what an amazing job I have.
Being surrounded by wooden shelves and brass fixtures and painted ceilings also reminded me of the impact my environment has on my mindset. My desk at home has become a junk repository more than a space to be productive, and I didn’t realize how much the clutter stymied my thoughts until I sat in this big, open, gorgeous space. I had room to think, to relax, and to meditate–space to do my best editing. It was wonderful.
Coming home from a brief day in NYC after two overnight bus rides to a messy house and no food and a LOT of work was hard. The first thing I did was take a five-hour nap. The second thing I did was straighten up. And then I could work.
Sometimes I require being pushed to an extreme before I concede a habit needs to change. In this case, the Rose room reminded me how much better life is when I work with space to think. I can’t guarantee my apartment will always be spotless, but I can acknowledge that my desk’s cleanliness is a priority.
