With social distancing mandates in effect across much of the country, many people working in industries deemed “non-essential” are doing their work from home. And while the constant stream of COVID-19 news, in addition to caretaking or homeschooling responsibilities, can make it hard to stay focused on work, modifying your space can help. An organized and visually appealing work area can help you feel more productive — and more relaxed. 

Here are five tips for elevating your home workspace.  

Commit to your space

For those of us who don’t have a home office — which is a lot of people — work-from-home routines can easily get derailed. Designating an area for work, even if that place is the bill-paying area in your kitchen, is a way to stay in your routine and get yourself in the work mindset. Whatever spot you choose, just make sure it feels like a dedicated and functional work area. That means adequate lighting, a comfortable chair — the right height for typing without strain — a seamless tech setup that allows you to take and make video calls without having to fiddle with plugs or wires, and an overall lack of clutter on your desk and the surrounding area.

Declutter

This seems obvious, but let’s level with ourselves. When do we really get around to cleaning our desks? Well, now’s the time. Toss anything that needs to be thrown out, pair like items with like, contain those stray pens in one nice decorative cup, and make sure you have all your workday essentials close at hand and non-essential items moved elsewhere. 

Curate an inspiration board

Now that you’ve set the stage, it’s time to look ahead. And that wall you’re looking at beyond your laptop should inspire you. This is as good a time as ever to put together an inspiration board and fill it with what makes you happy, from images of your favorite people and pets, to pics of your goals (like that fabulous vacation you are going to take once we’ve all gotten through this tough time!). And yes, you can put your to-dos and important reminders up there too — but keep the focus on the positive and uplifting, and keep it right in your line of sight.

Do a background check

If video calls are part of your new day-to-day, think about what your colleagues are seeing behind you — like that pile of laundry or those mostly empty wine glasses. Keep things clean and uncluttered. And if you have the space, show off your style. Some good background options might be your favorite art piece, interesting souvenirs or a not-overly-stuffed bookcase. Lastly, remember lighting: Your space should be adequately lit, or it’ll look like you’re dialing in from a submarine.

Set the mood

Never got your dream office? This is your moment. We bet scented candles aren’t allowed in your regular workspace, but you get to make the rules at home. Aromatherapy diffusers are another option if you’re worried about curious kids or pets. And now your playlist can softly waft overhead rather than through earphones. Similarly, set out some healthy snacks to avoid refrigerator trips, and nosh away. It’s OK for your home office to feel like your home, and especially now, it’s important to take time to indulge yourself with some creature comforts that feed your soul and make you feel calm and inspired.

The post 5 Ways to Make Your Home Office Work (Even if It’s Your Kitchen) first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.

I’m fortunate to have a brand spanking new office thanks to our recent renovation, but I never intended to be sharing it quite so generously with my kids.

There are a few things I’ve learnt about how to live/work harmoniously (within reason) with your kids and partner in one space.

1. Designate a drawer per person

This sounds stupidly simple but designating storage to each individual person has been so good for my state of mind because the worst part about the nightly clean-up is trying to work out where everything goes.

As much as I like the idea of everyone cleaning up their own mess, every parent knows that sometimes you just want the job done without the incessant nagging that precedes it.

With everyone having their own drawer, I can literally scoop each person’s belongings into their individual drawers at the end of the night. No sorting required.

Then when I hear, “Muuuuuum, where is my pencil case?” the answer is always the same. I should also point out that it needn’t be a drawer, it could be a large tub or basket with each person’s name clearly marked on it.

2. Create a schedule for device use

The idea of my kids using my computer for online learning sends shivers down my spine. My Macbook Air is my bread and butter. If I’m not on it, I’m not earning an income, so sharing it is not really an option.

High school kids typically have their own devices and primary school kids, at this point, only need them for specific areas of their learning.

No one is an expert in this, but if you’re sharing devices it makes sense to schedule in the kids’ device time while you’re making breakfast or lunch (or one of the other 25 meals kids require), so that you’re panicking at the idea of the kids using your laptop for Mathletics while your emails continue to mount.

3. Create a partition

I respect the fact that many don’t have a dedicated office space and the kitchen table may be doubling as the family office right now.

Given our open plan-designed homes, the mess that is likely being created there won’t be doing your mental state any favours.

I suggest you buy a room divider.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the options you’ll find in your search engine at the moment. If budget allows, opt for something you love, that can easily be repurposed for when our shared working situation is no more.

A good-looking room divider looks fab in the bedroom and living room, too. If you know you’ll never reuse it, just source something, anything that will zone off the office mess, so you can forget about it while you’re chopping veggies in the kitchen.

Good luck.

The post How to share your home office space with your family first appeared on Housing Market Marketing by Housing Market Group.