Comments on: Workspace of the Week: Office away from the office http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:53:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Prakash http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-39560 Prakash Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:02:09 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-39560 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. 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.

]]> By: Krys Slovacek http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38563 Krys Slovacek Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:41:12 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38563 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). 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).

]]> By: Rachel http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38539 Rachel Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:52:27 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38539 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. 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.

]]> By: Travel Master http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38526 Travel Master Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:11:19 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38526 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 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

]]> By: kazza http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38502 kazza Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:11:01 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38502 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. 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.

]]> By: Tania http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38495 Tania Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:03:09 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38495 oh and the old-skool phone (and corresponding description) were Classic. LOL! :D oh and the old-skool phone (and corresponding description) were Classic. LOL! :D

]]> By: Tania http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38494 Tania Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:02:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38494 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! :) 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! :)

]]> By: Kerri http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38487 Kerri Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:26:42 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38487 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. 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.

]]> By: Anita http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38486 Anita Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:48 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38486 @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/catalog/products/80115790), but I have to say yours looks more comfortable... @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…

]]> By: Sangiometti http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38485 Sangiometti Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:14:46 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38485 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) 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)

]]> By: jennifer jane http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38484 jennifer jane Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:40:48 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38484 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! 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!

]]> By: peardown http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38483 peardown Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:28:00 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38483 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... 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…

]]> By: Deborah Marchant http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38482 Deborah Marchant Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:15:20 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38482 I keep it simple. http: //images.inmagine.com/img/gogoimages/ggis045/ggis045057.jpg I keep it simple.
http: //images.inmagine.com/img/gogoimages/ggis045/ggis045057.jpg

]]> By: L0R1 http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38480 L0R1 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:43:05 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38480 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 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

]]> By: Anita http://unclutterer.com/2009/07/03/workspace-of-the-week-office-away-from-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-38479 Anita Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:26:38 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5897#comment-38479 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. 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.

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