So you’re working from home for the first time, or maybe you’ve been doing it for awhile
but want to optimize your Work From Home experience, now is as good as time as any to find ways to enhance your work space and not go INSANE.
With Corona Virus turning our worlds upside down, many people are working from home for the unforeseeable future, some are going back to work, and some people are pushing forward with their side gig and never going back!
Working from home has it perks, but if you’ve done it before, you know the downsides to it as well.
STEP ONE: Set up a work space
Designate an area to utilize for work that is not your living room couch (guilty as charged), and possibly has some nice natural lighting or even better, seated near a window.
This is important because it keeps us on track, as well as gets us out of bed!
STEP TWO: Get dressed for success
Get up, get dressed, brush your hair, brush your teeth, and get ready to WORK.
This is not only a good motivator, but it is also good for your mental health. Some days pajamas are going to happen and that’s totally fine.
STEP THREE: Get your materials, and get organized
It’s so important to set up your work space as if you would in any office setting. This helps keep you on task, not scrambling around to find what you need the second it arises. Have everything in place.
Here’s a little glimpse into my studio space. I have a folder filer hung up on my wall, out of the way, a mug full of all my pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, x-acto knife, etc. Then I have a stand for my laptop (which is important to keep eye-level if you work on computers often) with my planners right underneath. So if I’m on calls with clients or giving quotes, I have everything I need within arms length.
TIP: Add some items that make you happy. For me it’s some artwork and my favorite ‘In the Garden’ scented candle that makes me feel like I’m not trapped inside.
STEP FOUR: Possibly the most important one, Get out of the house
Now at the start of the pandemic, this one was really starting to get to me. I’ve worked from home for awhile now, and I counted on my few dinners out with friends for my socialization since those of us working from home don’t typically get much of that during the day. With the pandemic, I couldn’t see anyone and it definitely starts to make you stir crazy. So go out and get a coffee now and then in the mornings, work at a Starbucks one day, schedule a meeting with a client, or hangout with a fellow creative and talk shop.
If you have any other tips or advice you’d like to add, feel free to leave a comment!
Collette M.
designordiyblog.wordpress.com 