How to create a positive workspace?
In the light of these strange times, (I won’t use the word unprecedented as we’re all sick of hearing that, right?) many of you will find yourselves working from home. Possibly for the very first time. Whilst it may have always been a fantasy to have a 30-second commute and go to work in your pyjamas, the reality may not be that great.
As many of us will have already learned, working from home takes organisation and discipline, discipline, discipline. Not least of all to avoid gaining 7lbs in your first week.
One of the most influencing factors as to whether or not you will enjoy working from home is getting your environment right. And how many of us have a ready-made office to work in? Yeah, not many. For most of us, we are crammed together on kitchen tables. Or, like the unofficial husband, working from a cluttered spare bedroom full of discarded floor samples and unused furniture. Some people in shared houses are even having to work from their beds. Our current working conditions are far from ideal so don’t give yourself a hard time if you’re struggling with it.
I’ve worked from home for the last four years and it took a long time to get good at it. And whilst there are a few downsides like genuine loneliness and having to rely totally on yourself for motivation, there are also huge positives. Like never missing a delivery, not spending a fortune on your lunch at Pret and being able to work out during the day. Because there’s nothing like a Joe Wicks HIIT to get you back on track. Working from home in the right way will open up a hugely positive work-life balance. So I hope that these strange times also open employer’s eyes to the possibility that more of us could successfully work from home (once the kids are back at school and we don’t have to use the ironing board as a desk).
So if you start to get used to the idea of working from home and hope to make it a more regular feature in your future, then start planning your workspace. Getting this right will make all the difference.
How to create a positive workspace
1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
Now when it comes to making space for a desk many of us immediately think of the ‘spare room’. But before you start shopping for desks please STOP and think! Do you really actually need a desk? I mean, how many of us actually have a desktop computer that we are chained to? Okay some, but not the majority. Most of us work from laptops or tablets and occasionally our phones, so we can be flexible about the location we choose. And are you really going to feel positive working from your spare bedroom? Will sharing a space with the unused treadmill and broken Hoover really inspire you?
‘Spare rooms’ are nearly always the smallest, and dare I say it, worst, rooms in the home. That’s why they weren’t chosen to be anything other than the ‘spare room’. What they are really there for is to sleep the occasional guest, hide Christmas presents and dry the laundry. To be honest they are a last resort place we should be working from. Fine for a lockdown, but not for forever. You should work in the place you feel most inspired and productive.
2. FOLLOW THE LIGHT
The best advice I can give anyone who is working from home is to follow the light. Natural light doesn’t just make a space more practical it makes it more positive too. Natural light is a real game changer when it comes to our mood. Even the most positive of us would struggle to work in a dark, gloomy room, so gravitate to where there is light.
Most of us aren’t lucky enough to have the perfect South facing room so consider changing your location throughout the day. Not only can you chase the rays you also get a change of scenery too. In the morning I work in my dining room because it has the morning sun, huge glass doors and a lovely view. This is when I will do the work that requires the most focus and attention to detail. But come the afternoon you’ll often find me on the loveseat in the west-facing living room. It’s insanely comfy and catches the sun all afternoon. This is where I work on more creative activities. So don’t feel you should be chained to a desk in one spot all day.
3. COMFORT IS KEY
You have to be using the right piece of furniture for the job. So if you do need to sit in one spot on a computer or laptop all day you are going to have to use a desk or dining table as your surface. Trying to use anything higher or lower like a console table or a coffee table is going to ruin you. Think of your chair as well, standard dining chairs are fine for a couple of hours, but upholstered ones may see you through a few more hours. But if you are literally sitting all day you need a proper office chair. I know! It’s so annoying because they aren’t very pretty (and are really pricey). But you are not going to feel productive and inspired with a sore arse. So swap out your dining chair for a more ergonomic one.
4. THE VIEW
If you have one, make use of it. This comes back to the point about your spare room, it’s unlikely it’s got the best view in the house. Do you have a beautiful garden to look out on? Or do you live in a built-up area where you can watch the passers-by? Get near a window if you can, the last thing you want to be staring at is a magnolia wall.
5. COLOURS
Colour has a huge impact on how we feel so be sure to give this some thought. The psychology of colour will guide you in the right direction but the most important thing to think about is “how do you need to feel to perform well in your job?” Do you need a colour that makes you feel relaxed, if so then blues and greens are a good place to start. Do you want to feel stimulated and energised, then consider oranges, yellows and vibrant pops of colour. Or opt for a grey or white if you need your mind to feel quiet and still. Or if you just want to feel positive then choose any colour that makes you feel happy. You can read more about choosing the perfect paint colour here.
6. ATMOSPHERE
This is all about the feeling of the space. Everything we have talked about so far will strongly contribute to that. But even if you have the perfect location, light, view and colour it will all be meaningless if you’re surrounded by dirty dishes and piles of laundry. You need to set the mood for the day. So why not start by doing some tidying up? It’s proven to boost self-esteem and confidence as it makes us feel we have already achieved success. This means we are more likely to go on and achieve more success. So it’s the perfect excuse to do the washing up on the company’s time!
7. STORAGE
Whilst I’m a strong advocate for not having to have a desk to work from home, I am very strict about putting your work clobber away at the end of the day. So find a place to store your laptop, charger, pad of paper, calculator, stationery, files etc. You don’t want that to be visible in your living space once you have clocked off for the day. Put it out of sight and out of mind. This will help you flick that all-important switch.
8. ANIMALS AND PLANTS
Plants are a must for every workspace, unless you are a plant murderer that is. Better to have no plant than a browned fern reminding you of your failures. And if you don’t rent then get a dog or cat, or house rabbit. There is nothing like an actual living, breathing, creature sharing your workspace. It means you can legitimately talk out loud and they are a great comfort when things go wrong.
Photo by Andrii Ganzevych on Unsplash
I hope this has given you some inspiration for planning your perfect workspace in the future. If you would like to get in touch to discuss a particular interiors project then give me a call, I’d love to hear from you.
