Hi Changemakers!

Just recently, our friends at Campaign.com were challenged by the People Team to share what their workspaces look like despite having to work remotely. The results were all so creative! It is true when they say that making your workspace comfortable and aesthetically decorated will motivate you to work.

How about you guys? Do you guys organize and decorate your workspace to make it aesthetic and comfortable? You have probably seen content about how people organize and decorate their workspaces on Instagram’s explore page, TikTok’s FYP, and YouTube, which are very tempting. Tempting you in a way that will make you put all the things you want in your shopping basket from the marketplace!

But hold on there, before you check out your items, you should take a look around. Are there any unused items that you can turn into decorations for your workspace? If you like online shopping, surely you have lots of cardboard and plastic that can be put to good use.

Here are some tips!

*1. File Box*

Who likes to be amazed by how overpriced file boxes are at the store? Well, you don't have to worry anymore. You can still tidy up files such as papers and important documents with a budget of 0 rupiah.

You heard it right, 0 rupiah. The trick is for you to collect cardboard boxes that you no longer use. It can be from used cereal boxes, cardboard from online shopping, etc. After collecting them, you just cut it like the example in the picture below.

To make it appear more aesthetic, decorate your file box with wrapping paper and colorful tape with various motifs. You can also stick pieces of pictures taken from your old magazines on it. Good luck Changemakers!

*2. Pencil Case*

Annoyed and tired of having your pencils or pens are scattered around? We can help you with this without you having to go to the store. With the pandemic, it is important to save up and reduce your expenses. In order for pens, pencils, highlighters, and other stationery to be neatly and beautifully organized, you can make containers from used items that are lying around.

You can make these containers from used bottles that can be decorated you like. The trick is to cut out the top part of the plastic bottle and use the bottom half. After that you can wrap it with strings, ribbons, or colored tapes.

Do you like to eat ice cream? Don't throw away the popsicle sticks because you can use these sticks to make photo frames. It's no secret, most of you Changemakers have photos of your loved ones on your desk. Starting from photos of parents, lovers, or even photos of their idols. I can see those of you who have photos of BTS members immediately grinning. Hihi.

The method is very easy, all you have to do is arrange the ice cream sticks according to your shape. For example, if you want to make a square photo frame, all you have to do is stack the ice cream sticks in several layers. Oh yes, don't forget to use a strong type of glue so that your frame is not easily damaged.

*3. Study Lamp*

Changemakers, you can also use this one as a nightstand lamp, too. So it's multifunctional.

If you have a lot of unused cans in your house, you can turn them into a very aesthetic lamp, you know. You only need to wash the used can until it is clean and dry, form a hole around the can using a drill, then decorate the can as you wish. It can be painted, decorated with stickers, and much more. After that, all you have to do is insert the LED light circuit into the can that is ready to be used.

Wow, that's really easy right?

So, those are some tips that you can do to turn used items or plastic waste into aesthetic decorations on your study table. By both reducing and recycling wastes, you also help in reducing the waste piling up in Indonesia.

According to data from the Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK), the amount of waste heap in Indonesia in 2020 reached 67.8 tons. Additionally, during the Covid-19 pandemic, online shopping trends increased to 62% with a total of 96% of plastic waste in the form of tape, plastic wrap, and bubble wrap.

To make this number not increase further, we can contribute by supporting the #DoThe3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Campaign. The 3r movement is very important in preserving our ecosystem by reducing our wastes and pollution on this planet.