Though work from home seemed to be a temporary solution when the COVID19 pandemic broke out, now most companies are embracing it as a permanent way of work. Entering into ‘work mode’ leaving your cozy bed placed only steps away is kind of difficult. Focussing on your work for 9 hours straight flopping down on the couch in your sweatpants is not a very productive setup. As work from home becomes the new normal, it’s better to create an inspirational environment that will boost your productivity and nurture the right state of mind.
After buying a 3 BHK affordable apartment in Maheshtala, Meghna Roy, a freelance interior designer decided to create a home office that will help her beat Monday blues as well as support her to stay productive and energetic throughout the day. Here she shares some ideas to curate the space of work with thoughtful design elements and some creativity to make it comfortable and an exciting place to be.
1. Get rid of clutter every day. A messy space leads to a messy state of mind. Piles of papers, wrappers and receipts mounting up at your desk might leave you feeling stressed and limit your breathing space. Pick a regular time in the day and clean your desk thoroughly.
2. Choosing the right colour scheme for your home office can boost creativity and energy levels. If your profession requires a high level of focus or if you want a minimalist working space, neutral tones will be the right pick for you. Cheerful colour schemes like cool blue or vibrant yellow are the popular colour choice for the office walls. They stimulate the mind and encourages productivity and focus and adds a friendly vibe to work in.
3. Do your back a favour by getting a comfortable ergonomic chair, designed for maximum lumbar support. Walking around and stretching might give you temporary relief but nothing can beat the comfort of a good chair that encourages good posture, provides back support and let you focus. If there is space, consider having a standing desk for minimized back pain and better circulation.
4. Establish your workspace in a place that receives a lot of sunshine. Natural light boosts productivity. In a poorly-lit space, working for a long period of time can leave you with a headache by the time the sun begins to set. Eye strain is becoming a common problem for professionals for staring at a computer screen continuously or switching back and forth between phone and computer screen. Rely on aesthetic table lamps, soft desk lamp or task lighting solutions to add brightness and visual appeal to your home office. Meghna incorporated a soft desk lamp in her affordable apartment near Batanagar for a warm, cozy feeling that contributes to a less stressful home office.
5. Finally, the home office should make you feel happy and cheerful. It is not meant to be formal or boring. Pick up some good or quirky quotes, postcards of inspirational figures, photo frames filled with happy snaps and favourite personal objects to make it an interesting setup. Have a yoga or stretching mat to ditch the sedentary desk life. With some creativity and personal touch, make it your own happy den where you can take a breath when you’re feeling stressed.
