Home Office Overhaul

One of the great factors that assisted in mediating the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown was the ability to work from home. While this was not possible for everyone, such as those in construction, the economic and social impact of a lockdown would have been so much more severe even 50 years ago, when the technology to work from home did not exist.

For those who were able to work from home (with perhaps the exception of many parents) the experience was mostly positive. The added flexibility in terms of what to wear and what to eat saw many people improve their productivity. In addition, the reduced need to travel for work meant real savings.

As the work from home phenomenon moved from a few months to a more permanent arrangement, some people left their apartments in crowded areas such as Manhattan for cheaper accommodation outside the city, with the added benefit of country living for the whole family.

It is therefore understandable that the people who experienced these benefits were not that keen to go back to the ‘normal’ nine-to-five office. Since many employers also saw benefits (such as a reduced need for office space), the number of people working from home permanently is steadily increasing.

This means that people are now seriously considering how to set up their home office, to ensure that they don’t bring office stress into their places of living, or a too laid-back home attitude to their new ‘offices’.

The founder of a top selling chamomile shampoo brand, the Heavenly Life, advises that his work life balance during COVID has tremendously helped the brand continue to grow. He maintains a firm work hours and allows himself to walk away exactly at 6PM in order to spend time with family and friends. He suggests setting an alarm clock that will remind you when leisure time begins so that you are able to get into a habit of nurturing your personal time.

Research also suggests that the most productive and happy work-from-homers are those who make a clear separation between the home and the office. While it will not always be possible, particularly if your kids are still in diapers, there is still a lot you can do to ensure your workplace remains productive and your house feels like home.

One such approach is to change the ambience between your work and home, even though the setting remains the same. Noise-cancelling headphones can drown out noises that could otherwise be distracting, but won’t work for everyone because sometimes you need to keep tabs of what is going on around you. Another option is to play white noise or relaxing mood music on your home system when you are working, and family favorites the moment your day ends. With that in mind, it is also important to stop working when your day ends, otherwise you risk blurring the lines between the office and home.

Another home office trend is the rethinking of lighting. Adjustable lighting allows you to use brighter lights for your office environment to help you focus and to stave off drowsiness, which can then be adjusted to softer light once the working day is done.

Most of all though, people how have the opportunity of creating spaces that are tailored to maximum personal satisfaction. You can make bread and put it in the oven over lunchtime (making sure you don’t run over your allotted time) and then work in the afternoon with a lovely smell permeating your home. You can use the time you usually would have spent on commuting to take a mid-morning jog or engage in another distressing activity, the choice is yours. You might still be working for a boss, but you’ll be bossing your office space.