As many people are working from home now, I wanted to address some of the work-at-home issues you may be encountering and offer tips. If you already have a home office, you will still find beneficial advice in this article.
Create a workspace, preferably with a door.
You will want this separate from daily life, away from distractions. If you don’t have a separate room or a guest room, transform the space that you have. I’ve heard of people transforming closets and attics into workspaces.
Clean the space and remove all the clutter.
Add a desk and chair.
If you have a desk, move it into this space or consider purchasing one if you don’t have anything you can use. Keep in mind that how you sit, the desk height, the type of chair you sit in will affect your health. Depending on your size and desk requirements, you will want to choose the right desk for you, click here for tips. Depending on how much you are sitting at your desk, you will need a comfortable chair, click here for how to choose a chair.
Arrange your desk for maximum light and an open feeling.
Try arranging your desk in different ways. I like to place a desk facing the door using the “power of position†in Feng Shui. Depending on how much space you have, you could put your desk perpendicular to the wall or away from the wall leaving enough space for your desk chair. Having your back to the wall allows for the perception of more light and openness.
Add light.
Open all window coverings to maximize the amount of natural light that comes into the room. Move lamps from other areas of the home to create the light needed.
Create a feeling in the room that brings you joy.
For example, if you have a favorite photo or piece of artwork, hang it so that you can see it. Move plants, accessories, whatever creates a peaceful environment for you to work in from the rest of your home into your workspace.
Extra tips:
- If you are on the phone or in online meetings, you may want to invest in a decent headset.
- If you are someone who cannot work without sound, move your home assistant, Google Home, or Alexa device, into your office area. Play ambient music (or whatever works for you) at a level that isn’t distracting. If there is too much noise happening outside your office, consider using a sound machine that will flatten out those noises and allow you to focus on your work.
- If you have a family, set up rules. A family discussion on how this will work is critical to a functioning household. If you and your spouse are both working from home, discuss work schedules, and have morning or evening check-ins to discuss the plan for the next day if changes are required.
- Working from home can be sedentary. Be sure to move every hour, set a timer on your phone. Take mid-day walks outside for a change of scenery.
- Stay connected! Try one of these ideas:
- Set up morning coffee break meetings with co-workers.
- Eat lunch separately from your desk.
- Schedule video lunch breaks with friends and co-workers. Having these connections will create stability in an otherwise unstable feeling situation.
Hang in there, you may find you enjoy working from home!
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