diff --git a/arch-config/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-1.json b/arch-config/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-1.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b1fff8e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/arch-config/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-1.json
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{
+    "border": "pixel",
+    "current_border_width": 2,
+    "floating": "auto_off",
+    "geometry": {
+       "height": 1038,
+       "width": 1916,
+       "x": 0,
+       "y": 0
+    },
+    "marks": [],
+    "name": "i3-save-tree --works ~",
+    "percent": 1,
+    "swallows": [
+       {
+        "class": "^kitty$",
+        "instance": "^kitty$",
+        "machine": "^lupusregina$",
+        "title": "^i3\\-save\\-tree\\ \\-\\-works\\ \\~$"
+       }
+    ],
+    "type": "con"
+}
diff --git a/arch-config/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-2.json b/arch-config/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-2.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eb3293e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/arch-config/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-2.json
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+{
+     tabbed split container with 4 children
+    "border": "normal",
+    "floating": "auto_off",
+    "layout": "tabbed",
+    "marks": [],
+    "percent": null,
+    "type": "con",
+    "nodes": [
+        {
+            "border": "pixel",
+            "current_border_width": 2,
+            "floating": "auto_off",
+            "geometry": {
+               "height": 1038,
+               "width": 1916,
+               "x": 0,
+               "y": 0
+            },
+            "marks": [],
+            "name": "i3 - ArchWiki — Mozilla Firefox",
+            "percent": 0.25,
+            "swallows": [
+               {
+                "class": "^firefox$",
+                "instance": "^Navigator$",
+                "machine": "^lupusregina$",
+                "title": "^i3\\ \\-\\ ArchWiki\\ \\—\\ Mozilla\\ Firefox$",
+                "window_role": "^browser$"
+               }
+            ],
+            "type": "con"
+        },
+        {
+            "border": "pixel",
+            "current_border_width": 2,
+            "floating": "auto_off",
+            "geometry": {
+               "height": 1038,
+               "width": 1916,
+               "x": 0,
+               "y": 0
+            },
+            "marks": [],
+            "name": "Inbox - mrc@frm01.net - Mozilla Thunderbird",
+            "percent": 0.25,
+            "swallows": [
+               {
+                "class": "^Thunderbird$",
+                "instance": "^Mail$",
+                "machine": "^lupusregina$",
+                "title": "^Inbox\\ \\-\\ mrc\\@frm01\\.net\\ \\-\\ Mozilla\\ Thunderbird$",
+                "window_role": "^3pane$"
+               }
+            ],
+            "type": "con"
+        },
+        {
+            "border": "pixel",
+            "current_border_width": 2,
+            "floating": "auto_off",
+            "geometry": {
+               "height": 1056,
+               "width": 1916,
+               "x": 2,
+               "y": 2
+            },
+            "marks": [],
+            "name": "Joplin",
+            "percent": 0.25,
+            "swallows": [
+               {
+                "class": "^Joplin$",
+                "instance": "^joplin$",
+                "machine": "^lupusregina$",
+                "title": "^Joplin$",
+                "window_role": "^browser\\-window$"
+               }
+            ],
+            "type": "con"
+        },
+        {
+            "border": "pixel",
+            "current_border_width": 2,
+            "floating": "auto_off",
+            "geometry": {
+               "height": 1038,
+               "width": 1916,
+               "x": 2,
+               "y": 20
+            },
+            "marks": [],
+            "name": "offtopic-chat - Discord",
+            "percent": 0.25,
+            "swallows": [
+               {
+                "class": "^discord$",
+                "instance": "^discord$",
+                "machine": "^lupusregina$",
+                "title": "^offtopic\\-chat\\ \\-\\ Discord$",
+                "window_role": "^browser\\-window$"
+               }
+            ],
+            "type": "con"
+        }
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/arch-config/.config/i3/scripts/layout-default.sh b/arch-config/.config/i3/scripts/layout-default.sh
index f12fda67..c4f28157 100755
--- a/arch-config/.config/i3/scripts/layout-default.sh
+++ b/arch-config/.config/i3/scripts/layout-default.sh
@@ -2,29 +2,15 @@
 
 i3-msg 'mode "default"'
 
-i3-msg 'workspace 1; exec kitty'
+# workspace 1
+i3-msg "workspace 1; append_layout ~/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-1.json"
 
-sleep 0.4
+(kitty &)
 
-i3-msg 'workspace 2; exec firefox'
+# workspace 2
+i3-msg "workspace 2; append_layout ~/.config/i3/layouts/layout-default/workspace-2.json"
 
-sleep 1.7
-
-#i3-msg 'workspace 2; exec evolution'
-i3-msg 'workspace 2; exec thunderbird'
-
-sleep 0.5
-
-i3-msg 'workspace 2; exec joplin-desktop'
-
-sleep 0
-
-i3-msg 'workspace 2; exec discord --no-sandbox'
-
-sleep 0.5
-# set tabbed layout
-i3-msg 'workspace 2; layout tabbed'
-
-#sleep 7.8
-
-#i3-msg 'workspace 2; exec telegram-desktop'
+(firefox &)
+(thunderbird &)
+(joplin-desktop &)
+(discord --no-sandbox &)