Working From Home? Create the Ultimate Home Office!

Sometimes, in this new and unusual time we all find ourselves in, we have to find ways to adapt to our environment and circumstances in creative ways!  One new environment we are all looking to try and navigate differently is the workplace.  Many of us are getting into all new territory trying to balance the work-from-home life with our normal lives.  Working from home can seem like a break from the norm.  However, adding kids, pets, home-life distractions, and other variables into the mix doesn’t always make for the most productive workday.  Here are some ways to turn your space into the ultimate home office and maximize productivity!

First and foremost, establish the “home office space”.  You may not have an entire extra room you can dedicate to this purpose, so pick a corner or area in your space that feels like it can be just yours.  This could be your reading nook, a corner of your living room that isn’t currently being used, or a space in your kitchen that feels inspiring.  One of the best parts of not being confined to your normal office is that you can get creative and really make it your own!

Try adding some entertainment for your eyes! During the workday, it’s easy to get distracted while working at home.  Instead of immediately jumping onto Facebook or TikTok to get a mental break, try adding some inspiring or sentimental artwork where your eyes drift away from your computer screen! This will be a nice mental break with your thoughts instead of the social media rabbit hole.

If you have kids or pets distracting you, try playing games that get them out of your hair for a few minutes at a time!  For instance, dogs love looking for things.  Give your dog some mental stimulation - and yourself a break - by hiding a handful of their food around your place.  Let them go find it while you squeeze in some productive time and repeat!  If you have a toddler around that is also needing something to do, play a sorting game! Tell them to find everything in your space that is a certain shape or color and bring it to you.  Toddlers are EXPERT sorters.  Once they bring it all back, thank and congratulate them before asking them to put it all back!  This will take them a little more time than finding it did, and it will give you a few minutes.  This is a great hack if you need to sort some laundry as well ;)

Lastly, make your area feel FUN.  Do you work well while listening to music? Gone are the days of putting in your headphones at your desk! Feel free to bring out a speaker or play something out loud.   Do you feel most productive after small breaks? Bring your hand weights over and get some reps in between emails! Might as well get some physical exercise in as well.

Any space can be made into the ultimate home office because it is meant to be YOUR ultimate home office!