Repeat guest blogger alert! It is no secret that Diane Lowy, founder of New York at Home, is one of my favorite people, ever. Diane has previously blogged here about how to make your home work for you. Now that Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on all our lives, especially those of New Yorkers, I invited Diane back to give us some practical tips on working from home (WFH). Diane helps people create a safe and comfortable home through coaching, home organizing, and design. In her past life, she managed the New York offices for Google and Chanel, helping the office work for its employees. Both Diane and myself look at the world with an intense mix of gratitude (aka use “I get to” instead of “I have to”) and a curiosity to see how we can do more with less, creating time for what’s meaningful.
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Earning a large salary while working from home has been for a dream for many for decades. In a world with Covid-19, many of us are now learning all about the ups and downs of WFH. Is there a way to make WFH easy and comfortable without spending a ton of money?
Preparation is key
You don’t need a lot to create a great working from home space. You do need a plan to shift into and out of work mode. The space should be comfortable for the work day, and have the tools you need readily available. Preparation and planning is behind so much of our successes—be it your finances or your home office.
Location, location, location
Getting in and out of work mode means having your desk in the right location in your home. Do you like your desk to face a wall or into the room? Normally, you might work for an hour in the evening in the living room but now you might be working all day. Moving your desk to place with a door is the biggest change I’m recommending to people right now – even if it is a bedroom – to give yourself a sense of privacy, which creates focus. The first and last thing you see each day should be calming. Put the desk in an alcove or to the side of the bed so you can have proper separation from work.
Signals to “activate” work time
If you often wear headphones when working, put those on at home too to give yourself the hint “hey- it’s time to work now”. If you will be on Zoom calls, ensure your grooming and background presents you in a professional light. Cleaning your desk at the end of the day is like making your bed in the morning. It’s inviting you to come back to a desk all ready for you in the morning, while also closing out the day to signal a time to relax.
Watch your back
Don’t forget your posture. Invest in a chair and other tools that can be adjusted to support your posture over the course of the day. Your knees and elbows should be at 90-degree angles to be kind to your back. Check out this video to learn more about how to adjust an office chair. Small tools like a laptop riser or wrist rest can go a long way to keeping you comfortable in your home office.
Take a break
When you’re in the office, what are your normal breaks? If you normally have a coffee at 10AM, a sandwich at 12:30PM, and a snack at 3PM at the office, set yourself up to do the same at home. It’s normal to have coffee talk and lunch with a coworker or network contact so scheduling these virtually can help sustain and grow connections and prevent you from feeling isolated.
As with any plan, keep it up to date. Be sure to revisit how your space is and isn’t serving you as the situation evolves. If these tips were helpful to you and you’re looking for more, you can sign up here for my newsletter and follow me on Instagram @newyorkerathome.
