Isn't 2022 just flying by now that there is a sense of normalcy to the world again? With chaos in the political world, it's even more important to have a calming space to come home to. I don't know about you, but my family enjoyed the quiet, downtime during Covid. We spent more time in touch with nature, moving our bodies, talking, singing and cooking at home. Slowly as things returned to normal, the time doing those activities started to slip away but I'm holding on to small moments of stillness, quiet and comfort at home.
More people left their in-office jobs for permanent work from home positions, saving hours of drive time to and from. For these people, work is now ALWAYS at home. The divisive line between work and home has become more wavy, less separate. There are pluses to this, but it also comes with the drawback of being able to really "shut off".
I want to share some tips on how to really ensure you can continue to have a good work-life balance when working from home. The first step is to define your working hours as best as you can. We know sometimes there are late meetings and special circumstances, but try to be pretty diligent. You'll also want to be sure your actual office space is defined. Are you working at a desk or still working at the kitchen counter? This would leave you feeling unsettled. I'd recommend a place you can leave your computer as a "docking station". This also allows your body to be able to return to "work mode" each time you sit at your desk, rather than needing to shuffle things around to use the kitchen counter. If you can create a space with doors, that would be ideal, honestly something with glass is even better so if you have others in the house they're able to see if you're available or on the phone without opening the door and entering the room and you all have heard those funny stories about people walking behind others in their underwear during zoom calls. If you're frequently on video calls, you'll also want to create a nice backdrop whether it be a nice piece of art and a credenza or a plant. I'd recommend that this place NOT be the bedroom, but understand that sometimes that may be the more ideal place to have a desk especially if you have two people working from home that can't share an office space. If you are looking to re-paint an office, try to not go for bold or warm colors as they can make you anxious. Soft blues and greens are universally helpful to stay calm and less anxious while working. Lastly, be sure to include photos of things that make you happy and plants around your work area. Live plants are best due to their ionization, but faux plants carry a similar vibration to live plants and energetically liven up a space.
If you need a little more help creating an ultimate work from home office space, don't hesitate to reach out. I can help you create your dream office space that is comfortable, and functions best for YOU!! https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19254865