This is my work desk setting in the office and here’s why…

Hey There,

Welcome to another edition of Sherman's Weekly Digest! This week, we're turning the spotlight on something you wouldn't normally think twice about - my desk setup. But here's the catch: beneath the surface of this everyday sight lies a treasure trove of scientific wisdom and careful consideration.

Even though my current company adopts a hot desking policy, I always make it a point to reserve the same standing desk near the window. Out of this statement itself, it already hinted 3 of the key points that I want to share with you today - Standing Desk, Same, and Near the Window.

🏃‍♂️ Stand, Don't Sit

We're kicking things off with my standing desk. You might be wondering why? Well, when we stand, our bodies naturally make small movements, like shifting from foot to foot or moving our arms. These may seem trivial, but research shows they can actually stimulate our brains. That's right! Essentially, our brains love movement. Staying stagnant is not our default state and requires the brain to constantly instruct our bodies to stay still, leading to cognitive load.

But here comes the real kicker - standing burns 13% more calories than sitting! So, standing desks not only give your brain a buzz but also aid in weight loss. It's a win-win situation where we're not only boosting our productivity but also taking care of our health. Can sitting at a desk do that? I think not!

🗺️ Familiarity Breeds Productivity

Our brains appreciate familiarity. Sitting at the same desk daily prevents our minds from spending mental energy figuring out where things are. This mental map of our workspace frees up cognitive resources for the tasks at hand. Though it seems like a minor detail, it has a significant impact. The less energy spent on basics, the more can be focused on the task at hand.

To enhance this idea, I strive to make the desk feel like "mine," even if it's just for a day. Studies suggest that personalizing your workspace can boost efficiency by creating a "home field advantage." This sports term implies that a team performs better when playing in their own city, supported by their fans. Interestingly, this advantage also applies to our workplaces. When we feel a sense of ownership over our workspace, we become more confident and focused.

Additionally, research shows that when people feel a space is their own, they become more confident and efficient. Psychologists have found that hosting business negotiations in one's own company can increase profits by 60% to 160%.

☀️ The Sunlit Desk

I intentionally choose a desk that's hit by sunlight. At first glance, you might think it's all about aesthetics, or perhaps it's to capture those Instagram-worthy shots. But there's more depth to it. Having my workspace bathed in natural light is a strategic move to enhance my work performance.

Exposure to sunlight does wonders for our bodies and minds. It's known to uplift our mood and increase our energy levels. When we're in a better mood, we're more likely to approach our work with a positive mindset, which can boost our productivity.

Sunlight also plays a significant role in regulating our circadian rhythm, our body's natural sleep-wake cycle. Proper sleep is essential for our overall wellbeing and cognitive function. When we're well-rested, we can focus better and think more clearly, contributing to increased productivity.

Moreover, sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to reduced cognitive function, slower information processing speed, and impaired memory. Therefore, soaking up some sun while working can help prevent these issues and keep our cognitive abilities sharp.

🖥️ Additional Tip: Maximize Your "Brain Pixels"

If you're accustomed to working on a small laptop - like the ThinkPad that I am using right now for my consulting work, you might find yourself struggling a bit with cognitive overload. Small screens require more of our cognitive capacity because their limited size means we have to store these conceptual maps in our brain, not on the display. This requires us to use part of our limited cognitive capacity to maintain this map in our minds, thus straining our cognitive resources in a way that's not necessary when using large screens. Moreover, small screens also force us to engage in virtual navigation—scrolling, zooming, clicking—which is less intuitive and more effortful than the physical navigation possible with larger screens.

On the other hand, as you might see from the picture, I use multiple large monitors. You might have watched the movie - "Minority Report" starred Tom Cruise, that’s illustrates how large screens can stimulate our cognitive abilities. In a study by Robert Ball, an assistant professor at Weber State University, it was found that the use of large screens significantly improved cognitive performance. For basic visualization tasks, large screens increased task completion speed more than tenfold. For more challenging tasks, completion speed increased by 200-300%.

The reason behind this is that larger screens allow all data to be placed in a way that continues to exist over time, which aids our spatial memory and ability to remember and locate information more effectively. This is particularly crucial because our brain is best suited to processing information, rather than holding it. When we use large screens, our cognitive ability can focus on processing this information, which maximizes our brain power.

Alright folks, you've heard my spiel on why my desk setup is the bee's knees. From standing to stimulate the brain and burn calories, to the familiar territory boosting productivity, and bathing it all in natural sunlight for that mood and energy boost. Oh, and not forgetting the brain-enhancing magic of large screens. Who knew so much thought could go into a workspace, huh? But before you all rush off to book my favorite sunlit, standing desk with its multiple screens, remember, hands off! It's mine, and I've got the cognitive maps to prove it. Stay awesome, everyone!

Best,

Sherman

Things that I found interesting this week:

📚 Book — The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy Paul

P.S. I got most of the scientific evidence and learning of choosing this desk from this book, definitely read it to locate more productivity tips!