Automattic has profoundly influenced my life, and if you know my story, you know it. I often feel compelled to praise the organization that has enabled me to do productive, meaningful work over the past four years.
In times of commercial deals driven by cold numbers and profit above all else, it would be natural to accept trading a good salary for the best work I could do, with no room for empathy or courtesy. But this is not what happens at the company that aims to make the web a better place.
I once wrote about the company’s identity and culture. Later, I introduced the benefit I love most. Now it’s time to talk about the workplace, where our magic really happens.
Why I Choose My Own Space
Automattic would pay me to work from a coffee shop, surrounded by the buzz of other people. But I choose my own space instead. Step by step, I crafted an environment that allows me to produce high-quality work—and eventually, something better than what I did before planning it.
Here, I can think clearly without distractions. Everything is perfectly in place. I can walk around in silence while solving problems or listen to my favorite music loudly as I find my way.
This isn’t just where I work. It’s where my thoughts flow freely. Where I solve problems that seemed impossible at 9 AM but suddenly click at 4 PM. My creative corner, my focus zone, the launchpad for everything I conceive.
My Creative Toolkit
The Structure
My standing desk and office chair work as a duo—I can shift between sitting and standing when sitting feels too static for the thinking I’m doing. Some ideas (and your back muscles) need you on your feet. Other moments need you settled in, comfortable enough that the chair disappears and only the work remains.
The Tools
My tech duo, a MacBook Pro and a Studio Display Monitor, gives me the screen real estate to see everything at once. No more toggling between tabs, no more losing my train of thought because I can’t see the bigger picture.
The Resources
Then there’s the intellectual clan. Books stacked on my desk, piled on my shelves, everywhere within reach. Whenever I need inspiration or a different perspective, I can grab the knowledge and solutions that great minds discovered before me. All expensed by Automattic, because they know learning never stops. (As I wrote here, if you’re curious.)
Automattic’s home office setup allowance supports my best work. Having a space that feels intentionally designed changes everything—especially when you spend your days designing.
How about you? What does your work sanctuary look like?
