Try to keep a healthy work/life balance
Many of us learnt when working from home during the pandemic that we ended up working for longer – no commute in the morning and no one else leaving around us in the evening has meant our laptops and computers staying on for longer whilst we just get that last bit done. For those of us who have continued to work at home after the lockdown eased, we have had to try and find a healthy work-life balance that offered us the time and space to get work done whilst still being able to switch off at a reasonable hour in the evening. If you plan to work from home in the future, those boundaries need to be put in place immediately so you don’t feel the stress of working extra hours. Maintaining this work-life balance is essential for our health and wellbeing. Try to shut away your work equipment at night (if you can), so you are not reminded of everything you have to do the next day. If you will miss other colleagues leaving at the end of the day, set the alarm on your phone to remind you it’s time to finish.
Is your desk in the right place?
Whether you consider it a luxury or a chore, you need to make the most of your available space if you are working from home. Whilst you may have just brought your 2nd hand office furniture in from the car and dumped it in the first space you found, this may not be the best place for your set-up. Most people don’t have a spare room in their homes, but if you are lucky enough to have a spare bedroom or a small garage conversion, this could be the best start. Take your furniture to its new location and try out different setups with which you feel happiest. If you don’t have the luxury of a spare room in your home, try to keep your office space as separate from your home life as possible. The last thing you want is to finish at the end of the day, only to be facing your computer and desk for the rest of the evening as you try to relax! Finding a niche either under the stairs, in the nook of your living room, or in your kitchen pantry means having the perfect working space hidden away at the end of the day.
Add some finishing touches to make your space perfect
Yes, your office space isn’t going to be where you are spending all of your time, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to decorate it the way you want to. Why not consider adding some houseplants to your desk, hang your favorite picture on the wall and make it cosy with a throw or cushion? Particularly if you are working from home, adding those homely touches can help blend your office space into the background when you aren’t using it. Aromatherapy can be very relaxing and calming – perfect for a stressful working day. If you are looking to create a calming work atmosphere, we recommend getting an electric diffuser to plug into your space. Play some soft background music to help keep you motivated and focused on the day ahead.