How to Make the Most of Your Work-From-Home Space

How to Make the Most of Your Work-From-Home Space In Six Easy Steps:

If you’re trying to find a way to improve your work-from-home space, you’re not alone. More and more people are finding themselves working from home and adjusting to creating their own workspace. As we’ve gotten used to our work-from-home set-ups, you may find that yours needs a few adjustments to do your best work. Maybe you’ve been working in bed or at the kitchen counter, or your desk materials are getting lost throughout the house. It’s important to have a work-from-home space that’s organized, comfortable, and personal. Whether you’ve always had a home office or the WFH life is new to you, here are some easy ways to make the most of your work-from-home space so you can be productive, attentive, and create some work-life balance.

1. Brighten things up!

One of the easiest ways to feel energized and productive is to introduce some additional light into your workspace. No more harsh office fluorescents-- you can choose something that makes your work-from-home space feel like you. You can incorporate a favorite lamp from another part of your home to your workspace, or maybe now is the time to invest in some pretty decorative lights you’ve had your eye on. If you have a window by you, let some natural light in, and even some fresh air to keep your mind clear and feeling good. Natural, bright light at your desk will wake up your brain and will be a welcome addition to your work-from-home space.

2. Add some green!

Having some plants around your desk is not only a way to beautify your space, but it may actually make you work better! Studies have shown that having houseplants around you can increase your productivity and concentration. Whether you’re already a houseplant pro or are new to gardening, adding some plants to your space can help put you in the right mindset to tackle whatever the WFH workday brings. Spending more time at home can mean that you have more time to focus on keeping your plants healthy and your workspace vibrant. Adding even a small potted plant or some fresh flowers to your desk can help you feel more energized while you’re in your work-from-home space.

3. Sit comfy!

If you had to quickly put together a work-from-home space and have been sitting on an old dining chair for the last few months, it might be time for an upgrade. Your body and mind will thank you! Spending all day in an uncomfortable chair can cause you to carry extra stress in your muscles, and is certainly a distraction from doing your best work. If you have to sit for most of your workday anyway, your WFH home office should feature some high-quality seating so that you feel your best and are ready to tackle the day. Whether you add some new cushions, swap for your favorite comfy chair, or invest in a high-quality office chair just for your work, being comfortable while you work is essential for doing your best throughout the workday

4. Move around!

If you’re feeling a little too sedentary at your desk, there are some solutions to your WFH space to help. You can swap out your chair for an exercise ball to sit on for some of your day, keeping your muscles moving while you power through those emails. You can keep your yoga mat by your desk when you need a moment to stretch and relax after a long meeting. When your brain needs a break, take some time to walk around, whether just a couple of laps around your home or a walk around the block. Taking a moment from your desk to move around and walk to a different part of your home or street, even for a few minutes, will help you feel refreshed and ready to take on whatever is next on your work-from-home schedule.

5. Organize!

One simple way to make the most of your work-from-home space is to try to keep your area organized. An easy way to do this is to make sure you keep your work materials in your workspace. You never want to be looking all over your work area for a highlighter or a document to quick-reference only to realize you left it halfway across the house! Be sure to have all the things that you need for work in your workspace, and make sure they stay at your desk.

This could also be a great opportunity to find a new organization method that works for you. Having a unique, designated spot for all the things you might need during the workday-- writing materials, documents, books-- will help you feel calm and productive throughout the day without worrying that you won’t be able to find what you need. You can add a desk organizer or some new shelves to your space to give you more options to stay organized and ready to get the workday done.

6. Make it yours!

One of the best ways that you can make your workspace work for you is to make it personal. Your workspace should be somewhere that is at least somewhat removed from the rest of your home. Whether you have a home office or a small set-up in the living room, it’s important that you have your own space with a surface to work on, just your things around you, and a door or even a curtain or partition that you can use to section off your work from the rest of your home. That way, when work is done you can really feel like you’re walking away until tomorrow. When we work from home, it’s important to find ways to balance work-life and home-life.

But just because it’s your work desk doesn’t mean it shouldn’t feel like you! You’re in your space, make it feel like home. You can invest in a print by an artist you love to hang above your desk. Bring in some pictures of your loved ones-- something to look at when your eyes need a break from the screen. Your work-from-home space should feel separate from the rest of your home but still part of it. This will help you feel more productive while staying comfortable in a space that’s just for you.