A writing desk can be a valuable tool for disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with oneself and the world around us.

For years now, technology and its uses have been increasing. While it's a great thing in many ways, we all know that our time and attention are sometimes held prisoner to the same devices meant to make us stronger, smarter, and faster.

But not all is lost. It is possible to pair down the digital overload by creating for ourselves simple work/study spaces using a timeless tool: the writing desk.

According to the Encyclopedia of Design, the writing desk was first used in the 17th century and has gone through many variations up until the modern day.

Yet what hasn't changed is that it's always been a simple setup for writing, studying, drawing, and more activities of concentration and creativity. It was the precursor to the modern office desk.

A tool for the well-known

Charles Dickens, one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era, had a set daily routine that mimicked a day job. He would wake up at 7 am, have breakfast at 8 am, and be in his study working from 9 until 2 pm for lunch with his family. Then he’d have a vigorous three-hour walk. A photo from The Journal of Antiquities shows Dickens at his writing desk.

This same Journal article goes on to list some of the world's most famous authors, from Jane Austen to George Bernard Shaw, Louisa May Alcott to Mark Twain, who did their writing at some sort of dedicated space and treated their writing as part of a strict routine that they kept up daily.

Hearing about these writers and the dedication they had to go in and shut the door to jot away at their writing desks is inspiring and all, but what does it have to do with the present day, and much more so, with knowledge workers?

The simplest answer is that their writing desks and dedicated writing spaces served as a retreat from distraction. Whereas theirs was a respite from older forms of entertainment and activity, ours can be used to create a zone away from the far-reaching claws of technology.

The Problem of Technology Overwhelm

It's no secret to you or me that nowadays we seem to be more tired, stressed, and overstimulated, and whether we'd like to admit it or not, technology has a lot to do with that.

Medical News Today reports that technology can have psychological and physical effects, with isolation, depression, and anxiety affecting us psychologically and eye strain, poor posture, reduced physical activity, and sleep problems being the physical results.

So those are the problems laid out in black and white, but what is the solution?

The need for a digital detox

A digital detox is as simple as it seems: reducing or taking a break from technology for a certain period of time.

We've all done diet detoxes where we drink lemon water in the morning or drink green juice for three days to clear out physical impurities, but what about mental impurities? When do we take the time to resent our attention and focus? This is the goal of a digital detox.

But it doesn't need to be as daunting or as strict as it sounds. Devoting as little as 30 minutes to an hour a day in a little room with your writing desk, book or notebook, and pen is all that's needed.

Leave the phone in another room, close the laptop, or turn off the wifi; the point is to have as little distraction as possible to accomplish your tasks in a focused way.

The Benefits of a Writing Desk

Now that we understand the overwhelm and overload that modern technology can have on us and how to do a digital detox, what makes a writing desk the perfect tool for this?

• Creating a dedicated workspace: Sometimes we need a physical separation as much as we need a mental one. The chances that you will sit and focus on a task at the kitchen table while people are moving about or near the living room TV are slim, so separating a space to yourself with your writing desk will allow you over time to get used to moving to your designated area whenever you need a tech break or intense focus session. Also, a writing desk with ample storage space or the right office supplies makes all the difference when you just want to sit down and get to work.

• Reducing distractions: Writing desks, whether they have storage drawers, adjustable features, or a unique shape, are generally pretty simple pieces of furniture. From clean lines to sturdy steel legs, engineered wood, or optimized for small spaces, they are created to be simple and distraction-free.

  

  A computer desk utilizes technology plug-ins and large storage pieces like a hutch or file cabinet to make a statement, but writing desks are meant to reduce distractions. Of course, add-ons can accommodate modern tech, but it's easy to purchase a writing desk that will help you to reduce the number of distractions that may be around you at any time..

• Promoting mindfulness and focus: Writing desks help to cultivate mindfulness and focus by allowing you a simple place to sit down and get to work. They aren't super large so that you can add multiple devices for a worktop but rather provide enough space for a book, small laptop, or things to write with. They help you to think more carefully and clearly by prioritizing only what you need for your focus sessions.

  Having a workspace that's clutter-free will allow you to use all your mental powers not on organization but on the creative task at hand.

  

Tips for Using a Writing Desk to Unplug

Creating a calming atmosphere

It's important to create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere in your workspace. Add things that help you to unwind in the form of desk lamps, calming decor, or even stress-releasing music and smells. Use compact spaces or calming windows with scenery to reduce the chances of noise and foot traffic.

Setting boundaries

Set limits on technology use by either omitting tech altogether from your space for a certain period of time or establishing a healthy balance between online and offline activities through the use of apps that limit notifications and email distractions for certain hours of the day. If you have a wi-fi router with parental control settings, you can set it to turn on and off as well.

Engaging in analog activities

There are a multitude of benefits to engaging in analog activities, such as writing, drawing, or reading. They not only activate creativity, but they can help you expand your attention span, renew a sense of patience and consistent practice, as well as reduce the negative effects of technology that we stated above.

Conclusion

If you want to regain your focus and clarity and ditch technology a few hours a day in favor of creativity, a writing desk is a practical piece of office furniture that has been used for centuries for just that.

Consider investing in a writing desk and incorporating a digital detox into your daily routine!