Most of us weren’t prepared to up and leave our offices back in March to begin working remotely, and more than likely, most of us didn’t and may still not have the resources to build a home office. Not knowing how long stay at home orders would be in place, you may have made the couch or the dining room table your new workspace, thinking “this won’t last too long”. Fast forward, we are more than five months in, and while some are returning to the workplace slowly, others will continue to work from home until the end of the year, or even indefinitely. If that’s the case, it may be time to consider a more official workspace! In this week’s newsletter, we share a few tips that we’ve learned along the way that have been really helpful in creating a personal workspace where work actually gets done.
🏽Find an area with the least distractions. Try to avoid common areas like the living room or kitchen if you can. It may take some trial and error to figure out the best place for your set up, but ultimately you’ll want to choose a space that is most comfortable for you.
🧑🏾Figure out what you need to be the most successful remote worker. Do you need a dual monitor, or office supplies as simple as pens or a stapler? Check with your employer about what items you can expense and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
🧑🏻If you have a desk, yay! You are one of the luckier ones. If you don’t and you don’t have space for a desk, do a google search for “lap desk”, “floating desk” and “wall mounted desk” for those smaller spaces. A huge array of options you may never have thought of will pop up. You may need an extra hand putting them together, but there’s bound to be something that fits your needs and budget.
🏿Take a seat! You need something to sit in at your new desk. A typical bulky office chair may not cut it here especially if you live in a smaller space. Look into “balance ball chairs”, “kneeling chairs” and “sit to stand chairs”. You can even use a stability ball which you can find for less than $20.00 and is great for increasing muscle activation and core strength, improves posture and decreases discomfort… it’s like a workout without actually working out.
🏾Prioritize organization by keeping your space free of clutter or at the least, tidying up on a regular basis. Keep personal items to a minimum to avoid distractions and have a dedicated space to put your tech devices so they’re out of reach and not tempting you to scroll when you should be working. Schedule in brain breaks, like lunch and getting up to stretch or to get fresh air. Don’t skip this part! You’ll be more productive and focused if you let yourself reset and recharge a little bit.
🧑🏼Make your workspace you! Even if you’re keeping clutter to a minimum, keep some things on your desk that make you happy. Maybe it’s a picture of friends or your dog, a pretty plant or your favorite pumpkin pecan waffle candle that you can smell every few hours from Bath and Body Works. Having something in your workspace that you can look at and feel happy or at ease is a great way to improve your mood and can help in times when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
