Photo by: EriKreis via Canva
By the time you’re reading this, the holiday season will be long gone. This is only relevant as I’m about to suggest a list of items that have made my transition to working from home go as smoothly as possible, which I recognize would have been better if it was released at a time when it could inspire holiday gifts. Oh well, you can treat yourself anytime!
First, you’ll need a proper home office set-up. Now, I realize it isn’t possible for all. That being said, if you’re able to find one thing that makes the experience just a bit more comfortable and/or chic, I highly recommend it. For me, it’s my chair. I live in an expensive city where, frankly, being able to afford a separate room for my home office would require a promotion three to four ranks above my current station. Due to this, my “office” is my bedroom, and I wanted to pick something that wouldn’t make me cringe every time I glanced at it or get covered with laundry I haven’t yet folded (a habit I was certain a beautiful chair would break me of—success!). For this purpose, I chose a velvet dining chair over the typical wheeled option. If you find yourself seated longer, or have any issues with your back, this may not be the best option for you, but if you’re able, I recommend it.
A smaller item you might want to try? Blue light glasses. At first, I considered them a fad that allowed those not visually impaired to try on a new look. As someone whose vision hasn’t been near 20/20 since middle school, I am quietly resentful toward those people. However, I added a blue light filter to my regular glasses some time ago as a preventative measure and I’ve been headache-free for many moons. Perhaps I’m not prone to headaches, but considering I wasn’t sensitive to dry environments before purchasing a humidifier, only to wake up to a bloody nose and cracked lip after spending an evening away at my mother’s humidifier-free home, I’m keen to believe that a preventative measure is a good measure indeed.
Now that you have a fashionable-yet-practical accessory, let’s talk work-from-home couture. You’re not alone if your wardrobe has changed drastically over the past year. A close friend of mine, who has pivoted to online courses while running her vintage clothing business, gave me a simple bit of advice to break up the day and feel a little more professional: distinguish your sleep stretch pants from your day stretch pants. It’s a small effort and doesn’t necessarily require the purchase of a new matching sweatsuit with the logo of your favorite podcast. You already have your Zoom shirt and your Teams blazer. Ensuring your comfy-cozies are differentiated will allow you to separate work and life, even if they’re happening in the same room.
These are just a few suggestions to get your work-from-home space to work for you. Keep an eye out for part two where I share tips on work/life balance, healthy eating habits, and connection!