For the last several years, my dining room has doubled as my office.
It's awkward and uncomfortable. I'm jammed into a corner between two large plants. It's by far the coldest room in the house, which means I run a space heater behind my chair for the vast majority of the year.
I work at a "standing desk," aka a credenza, and a regular "desk" that is actually (you guessed it) a dining room table.
I've been meaning to move my office to a different room. It's a big room, a sunny room, an empty room. A room that is just waiting for me.
Why haven't I done it?
I wanted my office to be perfect.
I have an image in my mind... Walls beautifully decorated with framed art arranged in a gallery. Plants in a shelving unit along one wall, and cat climbing shelves on another. A cozy chair to sit in when I need a break from my desk, a real sit-stand one.
Sounds lovely, right?
For six years, I've limped along with a makeshift office because I wanted everything to be exactly as I envisioned before using it.
Then something happened. It was tiny, insignificant, but it changed everything.
I had a call scheduled at the same time my husband was working on the kitchen. He was making a lot of noise, and I knew I would never be able to focus on my conversation. So I went upstairs to my intended office room. Just to take the call, I told myself.
It was so comfortable, so spacious, so warm, that I decided to stay. I've been working there since.
The walls are bare except for some spackle. My cats are lounging on an old dresser. The only plants are some cuttings I'm trying to root, but I love it.
I wish I had moved up here years ago.
I let imagined perfection become the only goal instead of embracing an imperfect, but still immensely better solution.
I'll continue to work toward my vision of an ideal office. Whether it gets there or not, I'll appreciate every small improvement while using and enjoying it.
So, if you find yourself waiting for something to be just right, consider if you're letting perfect get in the way, like I did.
Choose progress over perfection.
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