Your Home Office (And Keeping Those Words Separate)
Published on 7/8/2022
Your
Home Office (And Keeping Those Words Separate)
In the last few years, “working from home” is
a phrase that’s taken on a whole new life. It’s not just about taking a day
away from the office anymore; opening a laptop at the kitchen table is how many
people are starting every single morning of their 9-to-5.
With remote work, though, people are
encountering all new challenges: Where does work end and downtime begin? How do
you organize your desk if your desk is a coffee table? If you live alone, who
stole your lunch out of the fridge?
This week on the blog, we’ve put together some
tips for freshening up your workspace, and making sure you’re putting the right
distance–physically and mentally–between the words “home office.”
Have a
dedicated workspace–and brainspace: Many of us have
created home offices, but what if you don’t have that second floor, or even a
spare bedroom? That doesn’t mean you can’t do things to create those healthy
boundaries between where you work and live. It can be as small as a corner
table in the living room; a kitchen chair you only use for your workday; a
coffee mug that’s just for mornings you clock in. While small, things like this
create a routine that your mind recognizes as different from the other time you
spend at home. And if you do have that home office, try closing the door at the
end of the day, even if you’re back to it the next morning. Not seeing your
paperwork during off hours can go a long way to truly logging out.
Organize
your desk: Speaking of paperwork, your desk might get
a little…let’s say “messy,” without coworkers dropping by to remind you to pick
up those granola bar wrappers. It’s not just about wiping down your keyboard
and monitors, though. It’s worth it to invest in things like paper organizing
baskets, cord-keepers, and under-desk drawer storage to keep the clutter from
taking over. There can be a lot to keep track of when you’re your own cleaning
staff, but you can set yourself up for success with just a few items to keep
things neat from the get-go.
Set up
a separate browser profile: While many companies will
provide a computer or laptop that’s just for work purposes, many others just
don’t have the resources to do so, leaving us to work on the same computers we
use for social networking, streaming, and gaming. Setting up a separate browser
profile just for your workday, again, can keep a clean line in your mind
between your personal bookmarks and your work resources. Better yet, have a
dedicated browser just for work!
Make
time for your commute: No, really. Once upon a time,
the stereotype of remote work was waking up five minutes before the morning
briefing, turning on the Keurig, and rolling off the bed into your computer
chair–and honestly, that can be an easy routine to fall into. It’s worth it to
make time for your commute, even if you’re not going anywhere. Waking up early
to brush your teeth and change your clothes, taking a walk or a bike ride after
work, or carving out 20 extra minutes to catch up on the news or text a friend
can give your mind time to ease into and out of your day and not go
full-throttle right out of your REM cycle.
Pick up
an air freshener or scent diffuser: Especially if your
new cube-mate is a dog and it’s getting toward the rainy season–it’s worth it.
These are just a few ideas for sharpening the
lines between workspace and lifespace, especially as more people are trading
their corner offices for a corner of the sectional. And if you’re looking for a
place to store the decorations from the office holiday party–also known as a
relaxing night on your patio–, visit us at Spartan
Storage to see available units.
