With more people than ever working from home, it’s high time that we investigated some of the things that we can do to achieve home office wellbeing. Heres some unsolicited home office advice.
Home offices are essential in today’s workplace. Professionals need spaces separate from the rest of the home where they can work in peace without being disturbed.
However, home offices are also highly improvised. Most workers aren’t aware of the subtle tricks that companies use to make their offices more conducive to productive work and personal welfare. And, really, why would you know these tricks? Most of us have been working in an office all of our lives.
Since I’ve started my work-from-home job I’ve applied a few tricks of the trade to make my in-office to home office transition easier. Here are some of the strategies that you can use to improve your space so that you can work just as effectively as when you commuted.
Bring The Natural World Inside
Bringing nature into your home office is one of the best methods for reducing stress levels and making yourself feel more relaxed. The moment you add flowers and green shrubs, it totally changes how you feel.
Try bringing in some greenery too. The moment you add flowers and green shrubs, it totally changes how you feel. It turns out that spending time in green environments, like forests, actually has a calming effect on the mind. This is also why most work-from-home tips include going on a walk outside. You might not be in the middle of the forest but the fresh air will do your body good.
You don’t need to commit to becoming a plant mom or dad to achieve this either. Just a simple green shrub on your desk beside your computer can make a tremendous difference in how you feel.
Log Off At The End Of The Working Day
And I mean really log off. Shut down your computer, close your door if you have one, and don’t leave your email open in your browser tab after work finishes. Close it and log out of all your work systems. If possible, use a separate computer for work and leisure.
Increase Natural Light
You don’t need to be the CEO to snag an office with a window when working at home. Natural light can have a wonderfully positive effect on how you feel. The more natural light you can bring into space, the better.
If possible, get a home window company to install full-length glass panels to let as much sunlight in as possible. Or look into adding skylights to improve the amount of light that you get through your existing windows.
Some other simple natural light tricks include moving your desk closer to where the light comes in. Just make sure that you orientate your screen to prevent the sun’s glare from wrecking your view.
Get Up And Move Every Hour
I love my Apple Watch specifically for this reason. It reminds you to move every hour. Many people who work in home offices struggle to get enough movement. Unlike in the regular office where there are many reasons throughout the day to stand up and move around, the same doesn’t apply to your home setup. Many workers are in their chairs for hours at a time before getting up.
Don’t be one of those people. Instead, go for a quick walk every 60 minutes or so. People who move around a small amount during the day can improve their health tremendously. Just two minutes walking to the bathroom is often enough to make a difference to your cardiovascular system.
Drink Water and Stay Hydrated
Sometimes we can get so laser-focused on our task at hand we forget to drink water. Start each day with a gallon-sized jug next to you. That way you can see how much you drink throughout the day. Don’t have a big jug? Get a tumbler of sorts and refill it every hour. Then you are getting some movement in and also staying hydrated!
My top home office advice is always room for improvement in your home office setup. Don’t be afraid to change things around and then change them again. This is a space that is a part of your home. Enjoy it.
