diff --git a/.config/i3/compact_workspace_numbers.py b/.config/i3/compact_workspace_numbers.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..75f04e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.config/i3/compact_workspace_numbers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import subprocess
+import json
+
+workspaces = json.loads(subprocess.run(["i3-msg", "-t", "get_workspaces"], stdout=subprocess.PIPE).stdout)
+numbered_workspaces = [ws for ws in workspaces if ws['num'] != -1]
+#focused = next(ws for ws in workspaces if ws['focused'] == True)
+maximum_ws = max(numbered_workspaces, key=lambda ws: ws['num'])
+# loop through all possible workspace numbers
+for ws_num in range(1, maximum_ws['num']):
+    # if workspace with current number doesn't exist
+    # TODO: handle multiple missing workspaces (consecutive or not)
+    if next((ws for ws in numbered_workspaces if ws['num'] == ws_num), None) is None:
+        # loop through all greater numbers and move down 1
+        for ws in [ws for ws in numbered_workspaces if ws['num'] > ws_num]:
+            new_name = ws['name'].split(":")
+            new_name[0] = str(int(new_name[0]) - 1) # subtract 1 from workspace number
+            subprocess.run(["i3-msg", "rename", "workspace",
+                            ws['name'], "to", ":".join(new_name)])
diff --git a/.config/i3/config b/.config/i3/config
index 98b598d..2a1b6de 100644
--- a/.config/i3/config
+++ b/.config/i3/config
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ mode "resize" {
 	bindsym k resize grow height 10 px or 10 ppt
 	bindsym l resize shrink height 10 px or 10 ppt
 	bindsym semicolon resize grow width 10 px or 10 ppt
+
+	bindsym c exec --no-startup-id /home/adam/.config/i3/compact_workspace_numbers.py
 	
 	# same bindings, but for the arrow keys
 	bindsym Left resize shrink width 10 px or 10 ppt