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How to Create a Productive Home Workspace
It's fair to say that life is not quite as we know it right now. Like many people, you may find yourself now working from home which can take a little time to get used to. One of the best ways that we have dealt with this change is to create a comfortable and welcoming workspace.
We don’t all have the luxury of a quiet home office but it’s not completely necessary. The main principle is that you assign one space to your work routine. It can be as simple as a desk in the corner of the room. The important part is that after a while your brain associates this space with work and productivity which should make it easier to get in the zone and focus when you sit down.
Of course, it’s not taking your seat at the desk that’s the hard bit. It’s staying there and remaining focused for the rest of the day that is the tricky part and the environment you are working in can play a major role in this.
So, here are our top tips on how to create a productive workspace in your own home. Some are tried and tested, whilst some we discovered in the weird and wonderful corners of the internet and they were simply too good not to share.
Stage 1: Choosing the perfect location
The most important step in creating your new home workspace is choosing the right location. For most, it will be the quietest room of the house, perhaps a spare bedroom or dining room.
Things to consider:
Natural Light - sun rays are the ultimate dose of happiness when spending a day at the desk and the view gives your eyes something to focus on away from the screen and reduce strain.
Potential distractions - are you somewhere that your mind can easily be distracted? For example, in dangerously close proximity to the TV and a stack of tempting box sets to catch up on?
Practicalities - Do you have easy access to a plug socket? Is there a comfortable amount of space? Are you close enough to the Wi-Fi hub to hold a good signal? There is nothing worse than glitchy conference calls!
Stage 2: Getting set up
Now you’re in the perfect location it’s time to build your space. A desk and chair are the essentials. If you’re going to be spending long days here then really consider the type of chair that you choose. Choose supportive over stylish. Your back with thank you later. Choose a desk that is of a good height, ideally allowing your computer screen to sit at eye level, therefore, lessening the strain on your neck.
Stage 3: Storage & Organisation
Whilst the shops might be off-limit at the moment you can get your DIY game in action and create your own storage from things you probably already have in the house.
Google will be your best friend for this one, but in the meantime here are some of our favourite organisation life hacks:
Repurpose old binders - if you fancy putting them on display then you can even cover them with some patterned paper to look even cuter on your desk.
Make-up storage - a lot of make-up storage solutions come in the form of acrylic dividers or drawers which are perfect for holding stationery and other bits and bobs. So, if working from home is only a temporary situation for you then why not swap over your make-up?
DIY Whiteboard/Chalkboard - another quick fix here for your home workspace. If you can’t get your hands on a whiteboard or chalkboard for taking notes and writing lists then don’t work you can make your own. To make your own mini whiteboard laminate a sheet of paper and your whiteboard pen will work perfectly on it. Pop it up above your desk and maybe even in a nice frame or fancy clipboard. If you’re a little more retro, then find an old piece of wood or even thick cardboard and coat with a few layers of chalkboard paint. Pinch some of the kids' chalk, and you’re ready to go!
Stage 4: Personalising your workspace
This is your space to thrive and to become inspired so it should reflect you as a person. It’s easy to get bogged down with work and especially right now with our world facing the unknown the strain feels a little heavier. So make this space your sanctuary. Your happy place. Get yourself onto trusty old Pinterest and look for some desk/home office inspiration. There are some beautiful design ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Here are some of our favourite ideas on how to customise your workspace:
Wall of fame - Why not incorporate a little inspiring message into your wall art. Use the space to display achievements, no matter how big or small, such as certificates, photos of career highlights and any other memory tokens. Reminding yourself how far you’ve come and everything that you’ve achieved is the best dose of motivation that you have what it takes to go on. Positive quotes are also great to use!
Coordinated stationery - it’s no secret that a nice colour coordinated stationery set does wonders for one's productivity. Not to mention it makes your desk look even more stunning. I mean, is writing out your to-do list on a gorgeous floral notepad with a matching floral pen not one of life’s most satisfying pleasures? We certainly think so.
Candles - They may not be the first work desk accessory that springs to mind but candles can be a great helping hand in your working day. Not only will they create a beautiful aroma in the scent of your choice. But, they can also help you to relax a little. Work can be stressful and with the UK lockdown household tensions are high so you want to find ways to make sure that neither parts of your life conflict and cause you to snap.
Add a touch of greenery - It’s well known that live plants and greenery are a great way to add feel-good vibes to any space and of course, help to improve the air quality. And now that you’re going to be around the house more for the foreseeable future, you’ve got no excuse not to find time to water them.
We hope that you and your loved ones are all staying safe at this moment in time. If you have any ideas that you would like to share on how you created your perfect workspace then we would love to hear them!
Quince & Cook
