home office furniture

Ten Ways to Embrace Your New Home “Office”

04.02.2020

Ten Ways to Embrace
Your New Home “Office”

Many of us have recently made the switch to working remotely. Whether you’re working from your bed in a studio apartment, a well-equipped and quiet home office space, or are splitting time between work and homeschooling around the kitchen table, there have probably been some bumps along the way (even if your pet is thrilled with the all the daytime face time they’re getting now).

Industry West Work From Home

We polled our team members, friends, and followers to get some insight into how everyone is adapting to the WFH life—here’s what they said…

1. Keep Your Office Routine

Create a simple ritual around the start and end of your workday—like lighting your favorite candle at your desk before opening up your laptop or pouring a cup of tea or glass of wine after logging off.

2. Designate Spaces

Choose a dedicated space to work, and do what you can to replicate the environment of your office—whether that means keeping pens and Post-its handy, grabbing a comfy chair from the living or dining room, or keeping your coffee warm in your usual travel mug.

3. Dress the Part

Get fully dressed every day (shoes optional). Even if you’re just changing from pajamas to athleisure, getting dressed can help you switch gears into work mode.

Bird Desk and Prouve Dining Chair
Cane Dressing Cabinet

4. Creative Note Taking

Get creative and use your mirrors or windows as whiteboards to take notes, make lists, and brainstorm. All you need is a dry-erase marker (and probably some Windex).

5. Take Small Breaks

Take lots of small breaks—start a load of laundry, get a stroll in, do a face mask or deep conditioning treatment. A change of pace or a quick walk around the block are great opportunities for a mental reset.

6. Consistent Sleep

Try to maintain a sleep schedule that pretends everything is normal (even if it does not feel that way at all...).

Cane Bed

7. Designated Spaces

As tempting as it is, try not to work in an area of your home that’s usually reserved for rest (i.e. the sofa or bedroom). It’ll be easier to resist naps and Netflix if you stick to your dedicated workspace, even if it’s an unconventional setup.

8. Natural Lighting

If it’s possible, open the windows and let natural light into your workspace. If not, try utilizing lighting layers to brighten your space. A combo of overhead ambient lighting and task lighting (smaller fixtures like a desk lamp that help illuminate your workspace) can help your space feel bright and energized!

9. Balancing Work and the Little Ones

If you’re homeschooling while working, try managing your kids’ assignments the way you would manage a project at work. Tweak a favorite template or spreadsheet, find a color-coding system that helps you keep everything sorted, and make checklists so everyone feels a sense of accomplishment when assignments are complete.

10. Virtual Happy Hours

Close out the end of the workday with virtual happy hour. Pour a glass for yourself to enjoy on the sofa or host a Facetime or Zoom gathering with coworkers, family, friends, or neighbors—cheers, you made it through another day!

Kids Cane Dining Chair and Elephant Table
Alfred Shelf

Looking to spruce up your workspace? Enter our WFH Registry Contest to win $500 of product for your home! Two winners will be selected on May 15, 2020. Tag #industrywestwfh to share with us!

TRENDING OFFICE PIECES

Industry West Work From Home
Back to blog