Working From Home
From creating a space to navigating work/life balance
A Guide to Working From Home
I've been working from home for many years now. It started out as one day working from home every other week, to working from home once weekly, to now being at home everyday. I love it! I know it's not for everyone, which is why I applaud companies that give their people choices. It's nice to know that I can go into the office and enjoy a free lunch, or I can start my day out a little slower and work from home. Either way, I am getting work done.
Some people struggle with working from home for a number of reasons. They may enjoy socializing more, or they prefer to keep their home and work separated. If you're like me and you live in a small house without a dedicated office, then you may find yourself not wanting to work from home. I totally understand that, because when the pandemic of 2020 arrived and my entire office switched to remote, I did not have a dedicated space to work in. I was hunched in a corner of my sons very messy room using a very small desk with only my laptop for a screen.
The room was dark, messy, and I found it really hard to focus and enjoy my work day. Sure, living in an uncertain time also contributed to these feelings, but my environment wasn't helping at all. I've compiled my top 5 tips below to help you if you find yourself working from home and feeling unorganized, tired, and unmotivated.
Top 5 Tips For Working From Home
1. Find a space in your home that you can dedicate as your home office space. 🏠
Live in a small space? This can get tricky but not impossible. This will require a bit of creativity. If you know you'll be on camera, you'll want to pick a space where you are facing a window. Getting natural light in not only helps with your mood, but it helps to make you look better on camera versus looking like you are in the witness protection program hiding in the shadows.
You'll need a big enough desk area to hold all your equipment. Having a large desk area can help keep your desk clutter free. A cluttered desk always makes me feel anxious and unprepared. I need a clean desk and so I recommend a large enough desk that can fit in your space. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy having a few things on my desk that aren't essential, more like decorative to help me feel good. A real or even fake plant adds a lot of calm and peace for me. As a fan of The Office, you know I have my stapler in jello sitting on my desk and occasionally I'll press it to hear a fun quote.
Think about your background too. My wall behind me needed a serious coat or two of paint but I didn't have time or money to paint my walls, so I bought wallpaper from Amazon and slapped that on my wall.
2. Implement a weekly desk clean-up 🧼
Every Sunday I'll spend a few minutes cleaning up my desk area. This involves a lot of dusting and sanitizing. The desk can sure collect a lot of dust over a course of a week. I'll also vacuum the area around me. Since my office space is the corner of my bedroom, I go ahead and dust and vacuum my entire room. I also like to have a candle burning in my room with my favorite fresh and clean scents.
3. Shut down your computer at the end of each day 🖥️
It's really important to me that I don't work past my schedule. If I leave my computer on, the temptation to check emails will be there. It's time to separate my work from my life and it can be as simple as shutting my laptop down for the evening. This also helps to start my day. I go to my corner, lol, and power on my laptop. Now I'm on work mode. This simple step really helps to separate work from home.
4. Take breaks at the top of every hour 🧘🏽♀️
It helps if you have a smart watch that buzzes you at the top of every hour to stand-up. Usually we ignore this, but when I'm at home and this buzzer goes off, I do get up. I'll take a walk to my kitchen, refill my water, or just walk around. As long as I get up from my desk and go anywhere else, that's a break. You could even go lay down for 10 minutes. It's important to take breaks not only for your mental health, but for your eyes. Staring at a screen for many hours can put a lot of strain on your eyes. Even if you have a pair of blue light lenses, it's a good reminder to get up and stretch or get some movement in.
5. Take your full lunch hour 🌮
I know we can get busy sometimes, but it's really important to take some time out for yourself. A full hour lunch break can really help break up your day. Try cooking something fresh, or go outside for a brisk walk. Do you have any places you can walk to or drive to nearby? I like to go to Aldi on my lunch breaks, when I have money. When I don't, it's time for a quick meal and watch the Office as I enjoy my lunch at the dining table, away from my computer.
My Work From Home Desk Set-Up
I am not an Amazon Affiliate so these links aren't commissionable. Maybe someday, but for now, they are not.
Standing Desk
This desk has been wonderful. You can raise it up and save up to 4 different settings. It was easy to assemble and priced well compared to other standing desks. This brand is FLEXISPOT and I got it on Amazon.
Nice Chair
This is a pretty chair, perfect for the look I was going for. It does lean back and rock and can be raised up and lowered. After a while the chair does need a cushion but only if you are always sitting. This brand is Duhome and it's from Amazon.
Functional Keyboard
I have a MacBook Pro for personal use and then I have an HP laptop for work. I needed a keyboard that understood both PC and Mac functions. This has 3 bluetooth connections so I can even connect to my iPad! Amazon purchase, brand OMOTON Bluetooth Keyboard.
Desk Mat
Add a pop of color to your desk set-up. This mat comes in several color combinations. It's reversible so you can flip it over when you get tired of one color. This one is 23.6" x 13.7". It's not that big so if you need a larger desk pad, this isn't it.
Laptop Stand
Nothing special about this laptop stand. It's a nice color and comes in other colors. It's only got one height and it's the right height for me. Open space under your laptop so the air can flow and you can store things underneath if needed.
Cell Phone Holder
A simple cell phone stand. It's small so it doesn't get in the way. It's great if you have a small desk area. It can be adjusted so you can use if for hands free video recording. Also comes in other colors.
USB C Hub for MacBook
If you have a newer MacBook you'll notice there are no HDMI or USB ports. With all the additional accessories we need for our laptops, we still need these ports. This hub has just the right amount of ports and I highly recommend!
Desk Fan Clip-On
USB desk fan for all my hot people. This is great if you have a standing desk and a walking pad or treadmill. I often walk on my treadmill while I work and this fan is a life saver. It also comes in many colors.
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July 25, 2024•3 min read
