So, here we are in the middle of a global pandemic – the likes of which, none of us have ever seen. Even though I work in Public Health, I don’t work in infectious disease, so even I felt thrown off kilter and completely blindsided about what is happening.
I can remember when I went out on remote work earlier this year. We were told we’d likely be working from home for the next couple of weeks. We were given notice the morning of March 13th and were told to pack up everything we needed by the end of the day. I felt a lot of anxiety, confusion, and uncertainty about what was happening.
It’s almost October and we were told in August that we’ll be out through June 2021! Whoa! What an utter shock to the system – especially since we were expecting to return in January 2021. Since I’ve been home, I’ve been slowly working on my workstation. I don’t have an office, but I do have a dedicated space in which to work. I realized early on the importance of having that, along with a few other things that make my space more comfortable.
I pulled together a list of the 5 things that I believe will enhance your at-home workstation or office, and ultimately improve your productivity. You can link to some of the products I’ve purchased below.
This was said earlier, but the truth is, you need a dedicated workspace. Creating a work from home lifestyle is different for many of us and it’s certainly something I had to come to terms with because work and home had always been separate. For those residing in small living quarters, this is a challenge. But if you can, move furniture around in your living room or bedroom to accommodate a small desk, it will be worth it. If your employer won’t pay for it, it’ll be a splurge, but I’ve linked to several options below.
1. You will need a desk. Working from the sofa or an island in the kitchen won’t be comfortable long-term. I purchased a beautiful desk from TJ Maxx Homegoods, it was expensive, but super unique and I absolutely love it! I can adjust the height manually, so that I can sit or stand throughout the day.
2. Since my overall aesthetic was important to me, I found two beautiful pieces of art that I love from TJ Maxx Homegoods. These were important pieces of home decor that keep me inspired and creative. I placed them on either side of a picture that says “live your dreams.” One of the pieces is by Marmont Hill and I love their black and white abstract portriats too.
3. Figure out what you need in terms of office supplies and equipment. I already had an HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 all-in-one wireless printer, but needed some additional office equipment. Even though I purchased my printer just last year, I couldn’t find that model, so I linked to a newer and similar one below. It’s the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 all-in-one wireless Printer that works with Alexa for $138.99! I also purchased a filing cabinet for $68.99 and a shredder for $40.99. All three were purchased from Amazon. *Please note that prices are subject to change.
4. The last item I’m going to purchase is a ring light for these Zoom meetings. I like to use virtual backgrounds for meetings and having a ring-light will help make me more visible and reduce the shadows on my face. I’ll post an update when I decide which one to buy.
5. The really nice thing about working from home is having the freedom to do whatever you want to do with your space. Aside from the office supplies and equipment that you need, I invite you to think about the answers to these questions.
What do you like to have around you?
How can you bring in elements from your hobbies and the outside world?
What do you need to feel inspired?
For me, it’s the art! I love art galleries and in my non-pandemic life, I’d be exploring them often.
I also love the outdoors, so I’ve surrounded myself with plants and I purchase a bouquet of flowers for my desk about every other week.
I also keep a good scented candle burning nearby. The flickering of the fire and the aromatic scents calm me. Below, I’ve linked to my favorite Yankee Candles for the fall and winter. Right now I’m loving cinnamon stick for $29, balsam cedar for $16.88, and autumn woods. There weren’t anymore autumn woods candles, so I linked to similar candle here – autumn wreath for $16.88. *Please note that prices are subject to change.
Lastly, I play jazz music, a podcast, a book, or a webinar – they all motivate me in some way. I’ve basically created my own coffeehouse vibes right here in my home and it makes me so happy!
