March 28, 2020

Working from Home

For many of us, our home environment is shifting to a work environment. This change may be temporary but nonetheless, it can be difficult to adapt and create the right surroundings when you are not used to working remotely. Most importantly, it can be challenging to remain productive and minimise distractions while transitioning from our usual home routine to a work one within the comfort of our own home.

You may be working from home by yourself, which can feel isolating. Staying connected with our work colleagues is even more important during this time. Whether you are communicating through a work chat space, phone calls, Facetime or video-call meetings, staying connected means staying inspired. A simple “good morning!” message may be just what someone needs to start their day. We would normally do this when arriving to work, so why not do this while working remotely?

Create a workspace

When we blend our home space and workspace, the best place to get started is to create boundaries and not blur the lines. Have a dedicated workspace ideally with a desk or table and a supportive chair - better not to stay in bed or on the couch ALL day. If you are working from home with your partner or friend, create necessary boundaries to minimise distractions. Set an alarm to wake you up. Shower and get out of your pyjamas. Wear something smart, casual and comfortable. Make your coffee. Give yourself a realistic timeframe for your work time. Take a break for lunch. Log off and out when you are done for the day - close your laptop.

Clutter free workspace

Our home is our sanctuary, our safe place. We keep each and every one of our most prized possessions in this space. While it is significant to our personal life - it may not be to our work life. Keep your workspace clean and simple. Only keep what is important to your tasks at hand. When you are finished with something, perhaps a book or your morning coffee, remove it from your workspace. Don’t let things accumulate around you to cause distraction.

What makes you feel good while working?

When you are surrounded with what makes you feel good it is an easy place to work from. Our favourite things to keep close by are:

An open, natural light space. A view with fresh air, we don’t like to close ourselves off from the world completely.
A diffuser with our favourite essential oils to encourage concentration and energy.
Some kind of greenery to keep the air clean and promote creativity, bring some colour to our space.

Water! Stay hydrated and have a bottle close-by to eliminate having to constantly refill.
Music - this may not be for everyone but we find it helps and a little dance-break never hurts anyone!
A face mist to give us a refreshing pick me up throughout our day.

Workspace diffuser blend

An ECO. Team favourite workspace diffuser blend to help revive a fatigued spirit, reduce stress and clear the mind.

Ask yourself again, what makes you feel good while working? And start from there! Be patient with yourself while transitioning to this unfamiliar workspace and you will discover what works best for you. If you're looking for background music, tune in to our Home Office playlist.