Setting up Practice
Working from Home
As a direct result of working from home during COVID, many of us have found ourselves in hybrid or fully remote jobs.
While this has opened a door to a certain level of freedom and flexibility, it has also created the problem of separating work from home. How can you do this if there is not much of a commute. With the remote working now a permanent for many people, there is a real need to address the how, where and when of our working habits.
Space for Work
Going to work involves a deliberate act that actually divides & separates work from the rest of life, so even if the daily commute is now reduced to taking a cup of tea into another ‘work designated’ room, a niche under the stairs or into a transformed shed in the garden, this is enough to mark the difference between being at work and at home.
First things first – Finding the space for a work
Space is always under pressure and our homes are no different, but it is important to evaluate how you use the space you’ve got and from the least utilised areas carve a space that will become your office. Ideal candidates are spare bedrooms, hall cupboards, under stair niches, second living rooms, garages, garden rooms or sheds, unused corners in sitting rooms or kitchens etc. Perhaps adding a freestanding office bureau or cabinet is all you need.
Use your imagination
It can be difficult to envisage how a space might work especially if its uninviting in its current state – a drafty, dusty garage or shed might not look great in its current state, so you have to engage your imagination and solve the problems one at a time, e.g. adding insulation and a heat source might just make that space a bit more appealing! Work out exactly what you need to make your office space work easily for you:
- Electric Sockets
- Desk Size
- Comfortable Chair
- Lighting
- Background for Video Calls
Having what you need to hand will make work so much easier and stress free.
Staking a Claim
It needs to be clear that this newly carved out space is yours and for your work – set clear boundaries for yourself and your family. Is this going to be a place that is purely for your work with a no touch policy for everyone except you, or will you allow hot-desking for school homework outside of ‘office hours’?
Making it Yours
Adding personal finishes that make your space a welcoming place to be may seem frivolous, but it is much easier to stay put and focus in a space that is pleasurable and comfortable to be in, so after all the necessities are in place, take the time to add these flourishes as it will make all the difference. Maybe a cushion and throw, a poster or some photographs, a rug and a potted plant and some new stationery. You may surprise yourself after all this effort and find that staying late at the ‘office’ isn’t such a chore after all!
