How do we make our homes feel effortlessly comfortable and productive?
Wise words about home work and living spaces, from an interior designer.
1. How can people avoid the lure of getting back under the covers while working?
Remember some basics to health and staying alert: breathe deeply, sleep well and drink lots of water. If that still doesn’t work (or maybe you have some deeper sleep issues), and you’re still about to fall asleep at your computer, then you should change what you’re doing to wake you up. Walk around. Go outside and look at the sky. Really look at the sky. Make a cup of tea but add some lemon, which has an alkalizing affect on your blood, good anti-disease ammunition. Make sure there is air flow (that’s one of best cures for that sleepy feeling). It’s best to locate your workstation near a window and with optimal air circulation.
Get morning exercise before you start working. Your adrenalin will be pumped and sleeping won’t even be a thought. Don’t eat a sleep-inducing lunch like a burger and fries. Be smarter if you want to stay awake past 2 pm.
2. Why is it so important to have a productive work-from-home space?
More and more, people are working from home, at least part time. With full time employment becoming a thing of the past, more and more of us are becoming freelancers, while some of us work part time from home for a corporation. First off, you have to distinguish work mind from a relaxed state of mind. As well, your environment should help you in separating work from play. You want a productive home work space so that you up your output which convinces your boss to let you work even more from home!
Your environment should help you in separating work from play.
3. What are some tips to create a productive work space?
First off, it has to be well-located in an attractive place that’s not the thoroughfare. If possible it should have natural light (consider washing those windows!) as well as non-glaring task lighting. Make sure that your back doesn’t hurt when you sit. Maybe try sit/stand workstations (you will need a bar counter or high desk for that), altering your position periodically. Clear the top of your desk to only have your current task on it. File everything else and keep better to-do notes so you won’t forget. Your mantra should be “no piles.”
4. What can people do if they have only a small home office space to work with?
Keep it minimal. The only way to think clearly is to have a clean desk. So take the extra time to create all the storage needs out of site so that it’s all readily available, just not staring at you when you’re trying to concentrate. If you’re happiest sitting at your kitchen counter or table with your laptop, try getting a more comfortable chair since you’ll be spending more time there. Remember, ergonometric doesn’t have to mean ugly.
5. How can people separate work life and personal life when working from home?
Leave the desk out of the bedroom then if you want any separation between them. Electronics have been known to interrupt sleep patterns, so that’s a good reason to separate the two. Your mind will be cluttered by your work even while trying to sleep. Having your desk in your bedroom doesn’t do much for the love life as well, so that’s a third solid reason.
Set up a separate area just for work if you can. Physical separation is the easiest way for it to feel separate so that you can feel clear and get work done, while not be overwhelmed by all the things on your to-do list.
Leave the desk out of the bedroom
Photo by Ella Jardim on Unsplash
Thanks for sharing these helpful tips, Carolyn! Definitely sharing!