Wintertime is all about getting snug as a bug in a rug, right? We sure think so. But your work to-do list is brimming, and this cozy weather really isn’t helping your case. If you’re working from home, on most days, if not all — it’s likely that you have created a pretty decent workaround for a home office, or have gone full hog with a work desk and an ergonomic chair. Despite having a dedicated remote workspace at home, there’s a good chance you’re feeling sluggish, ‘cause baby, it’s cold outside. And the coffee isn’t really doing its thing. We get it, we’ve been there too!
If this sounds relatable to you, what you need is a work-from-home office setup that really works for you. So, how do you incorporate smart tweaks to your WFH setup to make it a Home Office 2.0? We’ve got the full low-down for you. Go on, keep reading.
Tip #1: Get comfy, not cozy.
We typically spend 8-10 hours in our home office on a daily. So, this space has got to be equal parts comfortable and equal parts productive. If you’re using your dining table or your sofa as a makeshift office, you will be susceptible to slipping into a productivity slump...or god forbid a nap! So to avoid either of the two scenarios, we recommend investing in an ergonomic office chair. You’ll immediately see a dramatic increase in productivity, ‘cause you’re no longer slouching or trying to find a comfortable position to sit in. Good news — you can bring the Avenue Office Chair home for as little as $89 from the CasaOne Store. This one is a bang for your buck, considering it’ll take your productivity levels to all-new heights.
Tip #2: Breaks, but make it productive
While working from home, it’s only normal for you to want to take a power nap, or quickly catch up on your fave show on Netflix while grabbing coffee. But if your goal is to be a productive ninja, then this is a slippery slope you’re going to want to avoid. So here’s a hack — keep a pair of dumbbells or resistance bands handy in your home office to squeeze in a quick home workout when you feel the need to take a break from your screen and work in general. You’ll be achieving two goals — you’ll have the fuel to carry on with the rest of the workday, and you’ll also clock in your daily workout! If this isn’t a win-win, we don’t know what is!
Tip #3: Home office with a view
Where you set up your home office matters! If it’s going to be in close proximity to your bed, you’ll be tempted to work-from-bed instead, and we know how that can turn out! Try to create this setup as far away from your bedroom, and pick a spot near a window. The sunlight (we’ll take how much ever we get, TBH) is definitely going to help amp up your energy levels.
Tip #4: KonMari your home office
A home office that sparks joy can be a gamechanger. Start off by getting rid of loose papers or sticky notes with reminders for tasks that have been ticked off a long time ago, identify unnecessary items crowding your desk, and arrange them neatly and de-clutter your space. If you’ve got important documents you don’t need to look at every single day, we recommend investing in our pedestal file cabinets to tuck them away safely. Your de-clutter project doesn’t have to end with your physical home office, you can do it for your computer too! Delete the files you no longer need, clear your desktop (ahem, don’t just drag and drop all your desktop files into one folder!) Once you do this, we bet you’ll be blessed by the productivity gods... and maybe Marie Kondo too!
Tip #5: Make sure your home office is ‘lit’
Having good lighting in your home office is quite the underrated hack! A dimly lit home office is going to reflect its dull energy onto your workday and make every task feel like a total drag. It won’t be long until the lack of lighting takes a toll on your eyes too! Our James Swing Arm Desk Lamp will brighten up your home office’s overall vibe and ensure you’re motivated to get things done. Its swing-arm effortlessly changes the height of the lamp, while a long cord enables easy placement.
We hope these tips help you create a new-and-improved home office set-up so you stay on your toes, even on the coziest of winter days! Have a go-to trick that’s working wonders for you? We’re all ears. Go ahead and spill the beans in the comment section below.