With the increase in the spread of COVID-19 across the globe and the rising death in the countries, imposing lockdown is becoming a norm—bringing the routine life to a standstill. As the businesses adapt work-from-home, to continue running, most of us are experiencing such a situation for the first time. In addition to adjusting to the change in the work environment, when working from home, you need to take care of setting up your workspace. Generally, home is filled with distraction, however, with the right home decor or rather your workspace decor, you can create a great makeshift work-from-home space.
Below are 5 tips that you can use to create a comfortable and ergonomic work area, to help you work productively during these times.
1. Do find the right, quiet spot that works for you
While trying to work-from-home, you have to ensure that you pick the right spot to work productively without much distraction. You may want to choose the spot which is relatively far or devoid of television or the choices of snack that could easily be the interruption during your work time.
Also, it would be a good idea to choose a place with good natural light. A well-lit workspace reduces strain on your eyes. You can consider adding an overhead lamp or a desk lamp in case you do not get sufficient natural light in the chosen space.
2. Don’t choose your bed or the couch to work
Even at home, it is important to keep your working area different from your relaxing area. Although the thought of working out of your bed or a couch might sound comfortable—it would not be a good idea to go through it. The reason behind this is you would start associating bed or your couch, for that matter, with your work. This could lead to trouble falling asleep in bed or chilling on your couch while binge-watching to unwind. Separating workspace would give the much needed mental space during these testing times.
You can always take a bean bag to the balcony if you are looking for a change in scenery and to sit on something comfortable other than a chair.
3. Do keep a decluttered desk
Just because you are home, don’t be tempted to keep folders, papers anywhere you can. Remember to move that extra pen or the extra papers out of your way while working, if you don’t need it. A stockpile of paper or the sticky notes lying around or a cup of lukewarm coffee, although it might give you a sense of busy-ness, however, it is not a healthy working area. Let’s not forget that a clean space of work, provides you with a clearer space to think and execute work-plans productively.
4. Don’t stay in the same posture for a longer duration
It is natural to forget about time when we are just focused on the task at hand. In the office, it is easier to take breaks and move around. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case when at home. Be conscious about taking breaks. Maybe put out an alarm that goes off every 45 minutes, reminding you to move around or do some stretches while sitting at your desk.
There is also an off-chance that you wouldn’t have access to a good chair that is comfortable for a day-long work. You can try keeping a pillow on your seat to make it more comfortable. Use a rolled-up towel between your lower back and chair for lumbar support. You can also try working on your laptop while standing. You can use your kitchen counter as your makeshift “standing desk” giving you enough height to work. Lastly, remember not to hunch your back to see the screen.
5. Do add some of your personality to your work desk
So, even though working from home is a temporary situation due to the pandemic crisis, it doesn’t stop you from adding some personality for a pleasant experience. You can take chosen curated pieces from your home decor to add some luxury. You can maybe decorate by adding a small vase with some succulent to purify the air and add some green around your desk. Adding an essential oil diffuser wouldn’t be a bad idea either—fresh aromas can actually help you with ideas.
Work-from-home does come with some perks, you might as well embrace it and make the most of it. If you are looking to add some curated pieces to your home decor, visit Oaklane’s latest collection.
