Looking for Personal Success? 5 Reasons Why Separating Work and Play Spaces Improves Productivity

In a land, not so far away, there once lived a student who thought his desk was a hybrid mix of a pop-up amusement park and a wild, west showdown. Spoiler alert: the ADHD villains arrived at the scene, wreaking havoc on the area, and the student’s learning rode off into the sunset. Enter the importance of separation of work and play spaces.

The idea of separate spaces seems so logical, and yet it is frequently overlooked by students, parents, and educators alike. Doesn’t it make sense that the student works in her own room, away from distractions? There is no television, or traffic flow to distract the student in her own room, so naturally, one could reason this arrangement should work. Don’t get me wrong, some students are exceptionally productive when they disappear into their bedrooms-their minds go into action pumping out facts and information like a factory production line. The soothing quiet they find there shields them from extraneous stimuli including parental chats, sibling squabbles, and dogs begging to play catch. After completing the day’s work, they leave their workspace and go outside to play ball, run around the block, go to the gym, or ride bikes with their peers. This is their method of separation.

For other students, being forced to engage in work in the same space where they sleep, play, and spend their downtime creates an untenable sense of stress as there is seemingly no escape from the hamster wheel that seems to follow them throughout the day. For this student, cordoning off a sacred work-free space is critical for his emotional well-being as well as his capacity for productivity. Who wants to be lying in bed relaxing, only to gaze upon a desk strewn with papers, and a laptop screaming at them to be industrious? The inability to quiet the storm can prove destructive.

In that same spirit, for kids who have ADHD and are highly distracted, being sent to their rooms with the expectation that they will be productive is unrealistic and creates the makings for a heated parent-child interaction later that night. Anything is game for distraction-cellphones, laptops (Isn’t it ironic that the very tool students are expected to use for work is oftentimes the worst culprit of distraction?!), televisions (if there is one), books (Yes, books can be a distraction to the kid who loves to read!), playing cards and other games are all enticing forces that have the potential to distract even the most well-intended of students. Even the squirrel that’s spotted from the window as it leaps from tree to tree is enough to throw a student off course. The bedroom is so much of a wonderland of distractions, and for this kid, it is critical to designate a separate and supervised workspace to promote focus and productivity each night.

I know, some of you are rolling your eyes and saying, “Come on, why can’t the kid just focus? We did it when we were growing up.” Yeah, maybe, but we also slept in cribs with bars that were wide enough to trap our little heads and we rode in station wagons without seatbelts in the back-back. It didn’t kill us, but it certainly posed a risk! Let’s explore the importance of separating work and play spaces:

1. Minimize Distractions: ADHD makes it challenging for children to focus. Dedicating a separate workspace that is conducive to work is critical for this child’s busy mind. Toys, bright lights, televisions, phones, and other screened devices are eliminated. Only the basics are needed in this environment, making it easier for children to stay focus on their tasks without being tempted to engage with off-task distractions. 
2. Enhancement of Organization: a designated workspace promotes increased organization. In this space a student will have specific areas where they can store all of their materials including pens, pencils, markers, tape, staplers, hole punchers, rulers, paperclips, extra paper, etc. They have shelves for books and other resource materials…everything has a home, thereby empowering the student to keep track of their belongings. Without the usual workspace chaos, assignments and other important materials can’t get lost.
3. Mindset Shift: Having distinct work and play spaces enables students to transition into a focused and productive mindset. When they engage in this work area, their minds know it’s time to concentrate and initiate academic tasks. This shift trains their brains to associate this location with a productive work mode. Adding additional features to the room helps to establish a relaxed yet focused ambience. These items might include essential oils, beanbags, cozy blankets, soft lighting, ambient sound makers, large beach balls to sit on at the desk, etc.
4. Establishment of Boundaries: The ADHD mind makes it challenging for students to understand and establish boundaries between the world of work and play. One frequently bleeds into the next. Separating these spaces helps to establish not only a physical boundary but a mental boundary between the two, crystallizing for the student when it is time to focus and when it is appropriate to relax and play. Two important byproducts of this awareness are improved time management and the reduction of impulsivity.
5. Improved Productivity and Motivation: A dedicated work space can foster a productive environment where students can focus on their tasks more effectively. When distractions are minimized and a clear separation exists, it becomes easier for kids with ADHD to get into a flow state, increasing their productivity and motivation. This can lead to better academic performance and a greater sense of accomplishment.

So how do we put this into effect?

Try to create a separate workspace from your living space. If quarters are tight, this may be difficult to do, but it’s important to carve out your work area from the place where you relax and have fun.

Dorm room-cordon off a corner of your room that’s allocated for your desk or sitting area. Maybe it’s possible to loft your bed so that your workspace is located under your bed-out of sight, out of mind. Try working in the common room, a study space in the dorm, or a library on campus. Creating physical distance between work and play is incredibly powerful. Keep your relaxation space calm with low lighting, soft and comfortable fabrics for seating and bedding, soothing colors. Add music or ambient noise and consider the use of essential oils to promote tranquil surroundings.

Bedroom: follow this same idea, setting aside a distinct area for you to work, preferably as far from your bed as possible. If your home allows for it, set up a workspace at the kitchen or dining room table, a corner of your parent’s office, a spot in your family room. Using the guidelines above, make your relaxation space calm.

Outside of your home offers a multitude of options, depending on your level of distractibility. Libraries offer quiet rooms in which noise of any kind is not permitted. Coffee houses always play host to working-minded customers. Being in that environment invites productivity. Join a friend at their home. Work outside at a picnic table at a local park. Visit a local museum and find a quiet nook. The options are endless!

Here’s the thing:

the separation of work and play spaces for students with ADHD is like building a citadel that insulates their focus and productivity. It ensures that temptations like toys, screens, and household distractions don’t lure the student into off-task choices. Students absolutely need a designated space where they can escape from the clutches of distractions long enough to rejuvenate and find their groove. Whether it is a cozy corner of a bedroom or apartment, a quiet nook in the library or local bookstore, finding separation between work and play can make all the difference. Go forth, separate, and succeed!