We’ve all had to adapt to new living conditions this past year. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our way of life and behaviors. Masks, social distancing, sanitizing, lockdown, it can all get a little frustrating sometimes.
Most would agree that the best thing to come out of the pandemic is distance-working. As companies see just how much they can save by cutting costs on office spaces, more and more are encouraging employees to work from home.
There are plenty of advantages to working from home. You can save time and money by no longer commuting. You can wear whatever you like at work, even sweatpants! You can work when it’s convenient for you and take breaks when you like. On the other hand, sometimes it can be hard to keep work and home life separate.
We suggest creating several different spaces in the home dedicated to different activities. Doing so will both increase your productivity and ensure you have the time and space to relax at the end of your work day.
A Workspace for Increased Productivity
Most people work best when they have one specific area dedicated to their work. Depending on the size of your home, this could be as large as a separate room or as small as a kitchen table. Find the part of your home with the least distractions and make it your new work space. This will help keep your attention on your work while in the space and allow you to relax while away from it.
If you don’t live alone, it’s a good idea to make a few basic rules for working from home. For example, to avoid distractions, you and your partner could agree to take phone calls in separate rooms or not play audio while the other is working. Also, it’s a good idea to dedicate time to spend together. Set aside a half hour or more for a coffee or tea break away from your work space. This shared time will help you relax from work and reconnect with your loved ones.
A Place to Relax
Equally as important as having a place to work is having a place to relax. Most people find that the bedroom is the most relaxing room in the house. There you can unwind at the end of your workday and watch TV, read a book, listen to music, or take a well-deserved catnap before dinner. Be sure to keep work out of this space and don’t bring work-related materials with you to bed. This will disrupt the feelings of peace and relaxation you associate with this space.
A great way to make your bedroom even more relaxing is to dim the lighting. In particular, yellow light bulbs mimic the sunlight at dusk and inspire a calm, sleepy mood. Scented candles and incense also help to set a calm mood.
A Clean Space Means a Clean Mind
Lastly, make sure that your home is clean and clutter-free. The fact of the matter is, the more time you spend at home, the more opportunities there are for clutter to build up. Routine chores like vacuuming or washing the dishes become much more difficult when there are piles of extra stuff around. Before setting up your new work or relaxation space, we recommend getting rid of the excess clutter. Take a careful look at each space and ask yourself, what do I really need here? If the objects you find don’t logically belong in your space, set them aside for storage. Storing away belongings that would otherwise clutter your home is a great way to maximize space. Our company offers storage units for all kinds of customers. Business or personal, we have the ideal storage unit to help declutter your home. Visit us on our website for more details.