Unclutterer

1. Posted by Pablo Varela - 07/03/2009

   For me the musts are a mouse, a notepad and pen, some plug adapters if traveling abroad and an internet conection. The problem with the last one is that it’s usually very expensive.

2. Posted by Thom - 07/03/2009

   Usually the biggest problem with hotel room workspace options is the shocking ergonomics. The chairs are often poorly designed (for use as desk chairs) and not a good height. Then the “desk”, which is often required to double as a dressing table/side table will be the wrong height, too shallow, or (as in the one pictured) backed by a distracting mirror.

   Nothing’s going to make a space like this glamorous or inspiring, but at least you can try strategies to make it comfortable. I’ve seen people use the ironing board (assuming it’s free-standing and adjustable in height) in order to achieve a desk that has an ergonomic height and more room on either side for papers. I once used a room’s ottoman and bedside table to achieve something approaching a good height for keyboarding. Another time I was better off using the armchair, which happened to be quite compact and supportive with relatively low arms across which I was able to rest a board that I found in the room. (I think it might have been a small table extender or similar, it was a few years ago now.) This allowed me to put my laptop at a height just above lap height, so it was great for typing and I also had a flat surface on which to rest things.

3. Posted by ABM - 07/03/2009

   My first step is to remove all the junk from the desk the hotel provides. Then I setup my laptop power cord and various peripheral charging cords through the back of the desk pinched against the wall. I find that a minimal desk as possible is best for me for working from a hotel room.

   Though, when I have an especially nice hotel room with wireless, I tend to drag the couch to the nearest window, put my feet up and pretend I’m a High Power Executive with a lovely city view.

4. Posted by Kris - 07/03/2009

   The hotel room desk that’s pictured seems to include a fair amount of hotel literature (in front of the mirror and to the left of the computer). When I regularly traveled on business, when I entered the hotel room for the first time, the first thing that I would do was to circle the room, gathering up all the ads for pizza, the hotel restaurant, whatever, and put it all in the bottom drawer of the dresser. Immediately the room would look a little more homelike and a little less cluttered, with more room for my stuff.

   As far as office equipment goes, I always travel with a nylon pencil case with two compartments. In one compartment I keep a few pencils and pens as well as a black Sharpie permanent marker and a yellow highlighter. In the second compartment I store other office supplies including an eraser, small scissors that meet TSA guidelines, a small stapler that has a bottom compartment to store extra staples and a built-in staple remover, cellophane tape, and a glue stick, as well as a few paper clips, some rubber bands, and some sticky-back notes, each stored in a snack-sized self-closing plastic bag.

   Although this may sound like a lot of stuff, the pencil case that holds it all measures only about 10.5 inches wide by 6 inches high by an inch deep.

5. Posted by Karen McGowan - 07/03/2009

   I think the hotel room workspace all about the gear – i keep a power strip under the seat of my car and carry a belkin multi-outlet with usb ports, a retractable ethernet cable, bluetooth mouse, a couple thumb drives, ear buds, loose leaf notebook paper and my own pen (hotel pens are always out of ink!). I usually end up moving furniture around and unplugging lamps to create a more comfortable environment. It’s also amazing how many low-midrange hotels offer free wireless where the more executive range hotels charge an arm and a leg, although many of them have free wireless available in the lobby – that’s where the earbuds come i handy – even without music, they filter out the distractions and people are less apt to approach you when you’re wearing them.

6. Posted by Brenda Lou - 07/03/2009

   On a recent business trip, in order to keep travel costs down for the organization, I shared a room with one of my colleagues. She set up her laptop at the desk so I pulled out the ironing board put it at the end of the bed and adjusted the height so I could comfortable sit on the bed and work on my laptop. It was pretty comfy so next time when I’m traveling alone I may still use that set-up. (Plus, it’s a better location to see the TV so I can watch CNN while working.)

7. Posted by Maura - 07/03/2009

   Using this photo as the example:

   -Just because the coffee set-up in on the desk (or in the bathroom) doesn’t mean you can’t move it to a place more convenient. I also set up coffee the night before so it’s just the flick of a switch in the morning.

   -Get rid of the extraneous literature (as previously mentioned).

   -Use a cup/glass to coral a few writing implements, cell phone, etc.

   -Move the task light to a side that is most conducive to your handedness (unless it is attached to the wall where right-handedness rules as is the case in this photo.)

   -Make use of the drawer space to hold paperwork not currently in use.

   -Get up periodically to leave the room, go for a walk or a swim; linger in the lobby and people-watch etc.

8. Posted by Ruth Hansell - 07/03/2009

   I don’t use the desk at all. I ask for extra pillows – a minimum of 3, and turn the bed into a work surface.I use all the pillows I need, sometimes folding up the coverlet/spread to help make a good comfortable back rest. One of the extra pillows goes under my knees, one of them goes on my lap and the laptop goes on the pillow on my lap. I’ve also used folded towels to give me correct support.

   This gives me a huge surface to spread notes out on, elevates my feet and legs, (a must for me) and lets me be very very comfortable.

   Ruth

9. Posted by Katharine - 07/03/2009

   I also use the bed. I got used to that set up while I was pregnant, finishing my graduate degree. It gives me plenty of room to sort and spread out all my papers, and I can lay on my belly, or sit with extra pillows to work on the computer. Plus, it keeps me from getting lazy and laying down for a “quick” rest.

10. Posted by Cammy@TippyToeDiet - 07/03/2009

    The first thing I do after check-in is move everything that I don’t need from the desk and vanity to the top of the room’s closet. (I always put it back before I leave so that housekeeping doesn’t have to do it.) If I don’t like the position of the desk and it isn’t attached to the wall, I turn it or move it somewhere more tolerable. Or I sit on the sofa and work off my lap.

11. Posted by Nick - 07/03/2009

    One big difference is whether you’re driving or flying on business. If you’re flying, and you’re uncluttered, you are not going to have a checked bag, so the conveniences of home are not in place. But if you’re somebody who drives for business heavily, then it’s not unreasonable to pack a sturdy clear plastic box in your trunk with duplicates of accessories of home.

    I also find that if I’m going to have to do a lot of work in a hotel room, I prefer getting a room with two double beds instead of one king bed. I can use the 2nd double as an extended desk space for papers and computer accessories.

12. Posted by Another Deb - 07/03/2009

    What an excellent topic!

    You might be able to create a desk space by removing the “belly drawer” of the vanity,turning it upside down and reinserting it in the slot. (This won’t work if the drawer is on glides.)

    If you travel with a car on business, you could carry a folding laptop table or a board to use as Thom mentioned above.

    If you don’t listen to music or TV, it is also nice to have foam earplugs to screen out the noise.

    Usually there is a second chair at any table in the room and I turn it sideways facing me. I carry a pocketed vanity case with a little hanger built in. It serves as a “tool kit” and if I hang it off the back of the chair, I can access it easier while using the chair seat as paper space. The vanity case has enough room to carry chargers, cables and the music as well, so when I pack up the case I know to re-pack the electronics that get scattered around.

13. Posted by Zenlihood - 07/03/2009

    I agree with ABM – Remove everything unnecessary from the workspace (i.e., pint-size coffee machine since Starbucks cup is readily available), menus, brochures, etc. I’d even do away with that hideous cinder block of a telephone. Perhaps bringing along a single framed 3×5 photo of a favorite calm, peaceful zen-type place for viewing while in a Motel 8 environ would, while add to the “stuff”, also add a sense of “your space”.

14. Posted by RJFerret - 07/03/2009

    Just be careful when using a laptop on pillows or bedspreads to not block the fan/cooling vents! -Randy

15. Posted by Anita - 07/03/2009

    Laptop + bed = my ideal setup. If I could replace the desk in my office with a bed, the world would be a much nicer place. So really, working on the road would be wonderful

    Also, @ Ruth and others, I would advise against using a pillow as a laptop table. Most laptops I’ve seen have their fans/vents somewhere on the bottom or to one side; covering them up that tightly prevents air from getting to them, which can lead to overheating, which can do all manner of nasty things to your laptop and your lap. Macs are especially susceptible to overheating, in my experience. If you can, use some sort of a board (even if it’s a flat piece of cardboard on top of your pillow) to hold your laptop; the flat surface will leave enough room for the fan to cool down.

16. Posted by L0R1 - 07/03/2009

    Speaking of beds, pillows, and boards – for my birthday a couple of weeks ago I got a computer lap desk and love it! (I used pillows before, too.) It’s very comfortable. It even has a padded wrist rest. Here’s the link; scroll down to third item:

    http://www.lapdesk.com/products.jsp

17. Posted by Deborah Marchant - 07/03/2009

    I keep it simple.
    http: //images.inmagine.com/img/gogoimages/ggis045/ggis045057.jpg

18. Posted by peardown - 07/03/2009

    I often use the upside down drawer technique as a laptop table on the bed while traveling. And I also use the often found tray under the coffee works as a flat surface between the pillows and the laptop to keep the vents free. And yes, they do melt if they are blocked too long as in when you fall asleep while working in bed…

19. Posted by jennifer jane - 07/03/2009

    Oh what a neat idea for a blog post!
    I had never considered the layout and preferences for working in a hotel room.
    Pretty soon this is something I’m going to be doing -
    so I will take this project with me and share what my set up was!

20. Posted by Sangiometti - 07/03/2009

    I’ve been doing this for years and I think it’s all about the appropriate gear.

    Get an airport express for instant Wifi. Belkin mini-surge for extra outlets and usb chargers. Nice noise cancellation earphones from Bose or Sennheiser to reduce distraction and you are set. With this setup I’ve even worked sitting on the floor, with all the space I needed for copious printouts.

    (P.S. I occasionally bring along a portable scanner and/or printer depending on where I’m going and how long I’m staying. My current choices are from fujitsu and cannon)

21. Posted by Anita - 07/03/2009

    @LOR1: I love those things! Ikea carries one, and I’ve been debating whether to get it for a couple of weeks now (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....s/80115790), but I have to say yours looks more comfortable…

22. Posted by Kerri - 07/03/2009

    I use the exact same laptop desk that LOR1 uses. I love it. I use it at home on the couch or in bed, or hotel bed. My laptop is not as wide as the desk so I shove it to one side and the grey padded area works great as a mousepad.

23. Posted by Tania - 07/03/2009

    I prefer the desk and I agree with Nick that it makes a difference whether you’re driving or flying (since I often do both). But basically, yeah, I’ve had to deal with the hotel desk/table situation. Immediately my mind wondered ‘why did they not move all that foolywang nonsense off of the desk’ – as many others have stated. So I’m wondering if there’s a reason they left all the hotel literature and the coffeemaker there?

    Other than that there’s not a whole heck of a lot one can do. Gotta work with whatcha got!

24. Posted by Tania - 07/03/2009

    oh and the old-skool phone (and corresponding description) were Classic. LOL!

25. Posted by kazza - 07/04/2009

    I agree that taking everything off the table is the place to start.

    A laptop bag that is a little bigger than it needs to be is useful (a deeper bag so you can put things ontop of the laptop). I add in a zipper cloth bag containing a pencil case containing a few stationery essentials, a thin mousemat, a very thin notebook, and a light-weight inflatable pillow to make the chair more comfortable and the right height. (Very handy for times when there’s no where comfortable to sit while in transit).

    If there’s a spare blanket in the room use it instead of the inflatable pillow.

    Also, I take a yard or so of light cloth with me. It’s handy when I need to wrap something fragile but it also doubles as a tablecloth, mirror hider, extra bag, etc.

26. Posted by Travel Master - 07/04/2009

    Basics for when I travel, as for the last 15 years or so I’ve generally spend more than 100 nights per year in hotels …
    1) all of the hotel flyers, books, comment cards, ‘for sale’ water – immediately ‘file’ in the dressor or ontop of the credenza to get out of the way
    2) if possible, turn the desk so it faces the TV
    3) technology -
    - small wireless Linksys Travel Router – so that I’m not ‘tied’ to the desk
    - small Belkin surge protector (3 power ports plus 2 USB ports, with swivel wall jack) – so I have power for everything
    - small Creative Labs web camera – so that I can keep in touch with home, cheaper than lond-distance calls, better than Skype & ‘feel’ more at home when talking to my wife as we can see each other
    - small RadioShack USB FM transmitter (typically used for using an MP3 player in your car) – so that I can redirect my home radio stations online broadcast from my PC to the clock radio in the hotel room (so I can go to sleep & wake up to the same radio station as home)
    4) non-technology -
    - Bodom Travel Mug/French Press & freshly ground coffee – heat the water from the hotel room coffee maker but use my own better quality coffee
    - small bowl & cutting board – to have cerial & fresh fruit from a local store in the morning (prefer over breakfast at the hotel or cafiteria at work)
    - bathroom scale – as surprisingly few hotels have them, weighing yourself every morning/evening is a good way to keep a handel on what your eating (as can easily start to over eat & eat less healthy foods when away)

    And most times I’ll be in the same city for several weeks, so I’ll try & stay in the same hotel -
    - so leave my luggage at the hotel on the weekends when I go home (so less to drag around, no checked luggage & easier to accomidate the ‘stuff’ I travel with)
    - laundry soap – as try to stay at a hotel with a washer/dryer, as easy to do a load of wash one evening & not wasting time at home doing the wash or have to drag home dirty clothes
    - small nylon dirty clothes bag – to take a couple of items home/back so its not all the same clothes each week

    All this makes it more tolerable

27. Posted by Rachel - 07/05/2009

    Funny that most of the comments here criticise the setup in the photo for not having removed the hotel literature… I agree that there are several unneeded items on the desk (coffeemaker, telephone), but my first reaction when I saw the literature was how cleverly it had been arranged to avoid sitting opposite a reflection of yourself, which can be quite disconcerting. Something I would recommend bringing if you intend to work at the desk is an item that can be propped up to cover the mirror, or a sheet that can be draped over if possible.

28. Posted by Krys Slovacek - 07/06/2009

    Most of my tips and tricks have already been discussed. One I didn’t see is this: I always bring a power strip, since there are never enough outlets, or the outlets are poorly positioned. This keeps me from having to crawl under the desk every day to plug/unplug my laptop (I manage meetings and need to bring my laptop to my traveling office).

29. Posted by Prakash - 07/21/2009

    Check out the COMFORT SUITES DFW AIRPORT IN Irving, Texas
    the hotel was designed with a living room that seperates from the bedroom by a door that provides a big desk and the television that can be useful to watch the daily stock performance while working on the computer via high speed internet available free without turning in other direction and the room can be used for interviews etc.

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