This is a collaborative post
This past year many of us have spent far more time working from home
Back in March 2020 the vast majority of us were sat at our sofas or dining tables thinking we’d be back in the office in a few weeks but, as the weeks and months rolled by, it became clear that working from home was to here to stay.
Not all of us are lucky enough to have a spare room to convert into an office, but you don’t really need a whole room, in fact a quiet corner will do. Designing a calm home working space goes hand in hand with finding flexible roles that let you make the most of it. Many people are now turning to remote opportunities that support a better work-life balance, and Jooble offers a variety of options, including curriculum writer roles across the UK, perfect for those who want to work productively from their own home.
The first thing to do when creating a calm working space is to clear away clutter
What cannot be disposed of needs to be tidied away. You might want to invest in some storage solutions to put your bits and bobs, file away books and folders. Pots for pens and pencils and so on.
I’m lucky, I pretty much only rely on my laptop so my needs are simple.
Spruce up the floor area of your working space
A working area is a “high traffic area” which means you need flooring that can withstand all that pacing up and down, does anyone else do that while they are on the phone or is it just me? A durable material such as sisal is ideal and will add texture and style to your office space. Alternatively you could go with a lovely Engineered Wood Flooring, Parquet Flooring or Tongue and Groove Flooring which are hard wearing and feel great underfoot.
Keep active while working
Working from home can mean that you’re not as active, especially if you used to walk to work. You needn’t even leave your chair with an under desk elliptical! Simply place it under your desk and you can peddle away while working.
You might want to add a few plants to your office space
Plants have become increasingly trendy over the past year but they aren’t just pretty. They help purify the air and invoke a sense of calm – honestly they do (just don’t let them die!). I treated myself to this bundle of houseplants almost 6 months ago and I only killed one (with kindness by over watering).
Lastly, you need a comfortable chair
One of the most important things about working from home is to make sure you are looking after yourself and your health. If you aren’t sitting comfortably then your posture will suffer, if your posture suffers then so will your back and hips.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on an office chair but it really must be comfortable and supportive and that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on looks. You might want one with wheels but they aren’t a necessity in the home office environment, ideally you would “try before you buy” but I appreciate that isn’t always possible.
I hope my guide to creating a calm working space has given you a few ideas. Is there anything you would add?
