Wellness
Working from Home: How to Create a Home Office Oasis—and Increase Productivity
Share
It’s a digitally-driven world, and if you’re an employee, you’re probably working from home right now. The daily schedule for a WFH employee has quickly become redefined. Let's look at the home office: The desk is the kitchen table. The break room, whatever room you feel like that day. Zoom is the new meeting room and workplace. And your fellow employee helping you with time management and knocking your desk lamp over may have 4 paws and more concerned with finding the sun than any other task at hand. In this day and age, how can you organize your at-home workspace to be a beacon of productivity, a flexible environment, and most of all a room you actually want to commute to for work each day?
Whether you’re working in your studio apartment, remotely meeting in your mega-mansion, completing a task in a tiny home or discussing your job with your employer from your parents' house, we've put together the following tips in an employee guide to working from home, retaining productivity, keeping focus, and finding a workspace that keeps you focused (and accomplished).
Dedicate (and decorate) an “office” area.
While all of us might not have an at-home desk or office for our work from home jobs, it’s essential to have an appropriate working area that is both productive and flexible. Regardless of space size, establishing a motivational, no-nonsense workplace will help create personal and professional boundaries and keep your focus on track, task list in order, and work in order. Since you're working remotely, treat this area like you would if your job was still at the office—organize it regularly, maybe a file cabinet, a motivational "I'm the boss" sign, etc. You know what we're talking about. Trust us, you’ll feel even more official when you take your next video conference call.
1
Dedicate (and decorate) an “office” area.
While all of us might not have an at-home desk or office for our work from home jobs, it’s essential to have an appropriate working area that is both productive and flexible. Regardless of space size, establishing a motivational, no-nonsense workplace will help create personal and professional boundaries and keep your focus on track, task list in order, and work in order. Since you're working remotely, treat this area like you would if your job was still at the office—organize it regularly, maybe a file cabinet, a motivational "I'm the boss" sign, etc. You know what we're talking about. Trust us, you’ll feel even more official when you take your next video conference call.
Let the natural light in.
A benefit of natural light is to alleviate any angst you may have from being indoors. Choose a space to work that offers natural light—and fresh air, if the weather allows. You won’t have to deal with those flickering fluorescent office lights, and you’ll reap the real benefit of natural light—upping your Vitamin D intake, warding off seasonal depression, making you happier, and your space, brighter. Opening the shades will keep you connected to the outside world and invite a little nature into your home. Remember to have a backup spot, though, in case backlighting becomes an issue when you’re on video.
2
Let the natural light in.
A benefit of natural light is to alleviate any angst you may have from being indoors. Choose a space to work that offers natural light—and fresh air, if the weather allows. You won’t have to deal with those flickering fluorescent office lights, and you’ll reap the real benefit of natural light—upping your Vitamin D intake, warding off seasonal depression, making you happier, and your space, brighter. Opening the shades will keep you connected to the outside world and invite a little nature into your home. Remember to have a backup spot, though, in case backlighting becomes an issue when you’re on video.
Standup, disconnect, and schedule Savasana.
When you’re working from home, and your commute is from your bedroom to your home office, it’s easy to get sucked into sitting all day—heads down at your desk going through your work email and never leaving your home office. Try creating a “zen zone,” adjacent to your workspace, but within sight (it will remind you to take a break). Roll out a yoga mat/blanket/towel and surround it with whatever helps you to focus and be present—no work materials allowed. Take advantage of the wellness space you’ve created by closing your computer at least two times a day to get working on a few yoga poses (these seven are fantastic) and take advantage of these ahh-mazing stretches. Your mind and body will thank you.
3
Standup, disconnect, and schedule Savasana.
When you’re working from home, and your commute is from your bedroom to your home office, it’s easy to get sucked into sitting all day—heads down at your desk going through your work email and never leaving your home office. Try creating a “zen zone,” adjacent to your workspace, but within sight (it will remind you to take a break). Roll out a yoga mat/blanket/towel and surround it with whatever helps you to focus and be present—no work materials allowed. Take advantage of the wellness space you’ve created by closing your computer at least two times a day to get working on a few yoga poses (these seven are fantastic) and take advantage of these ahh-mazing stretches. Your mind and body will thank you.
Turn up the tunes.
Sitting in complete silence, tapping away on your laptop, or be dialed into conference calls all day can weigh on you, especially if you’re coming from a lively work environment. If you’re alone and WFH, take advantage of that Bluetooth speaker or record player by tuning in and jamming out to some upbeat songs. Spontaneous dance party, anyone? Whether it’s turning up Tycho’s futuristic, multi-sensory musical experience, belting it out to Celine, bouncing to Biggie, or rocking to the Rolling Stones, trying diving into new (and old) playlists—we have quite a few WFH faves. You might even find working to music more powerful and invigorating than that fifth cup of coffee you’re sipping on.
4
Turn up the tunes.
Sitting in complete silence, tapping away on your laptop, or be dialed into conference calls all day can weigh on you, especially if you’re coming from a lively work environment. If you’re alone and WFH, take advantage of that Bluetooth speaker or record player by tuning in and jamming out to some upbeat songs. Spontaneous dance party, anyone? Whether it’s turning up Tycho’s futuristic, multi-sensory musical experience, belting it out to Celine, bouncing to Biggie, or rocking to the Rolling Stones, trying diving into new (and old) playlists—we have quite a few WFH faves. You might even find working to music more powerful and invigorating than that fifth cup of coffee you’re sipping on.
Plug in and power up the diffuser.
In a time of change, uncertainty, and chaos, stress can manifest in many ways. It’s essential to find calm in your every day, and that can be hard when you’re dealing with everything—including panicked co-workers and endless virtual meetings. So, what better way to clear the negative air than with essential oils? From boosting your immune system, to managing stress, to increasing your overall mood, a few drops in your diffuser can make a huge difference. And if you’re like me and think it’s never too early for pumpkin spice everything, check out these blends. Plug in your diffuser within a few feet of your WFH workspace for optimal soothing scents, all workday long.
5
Plug in and power up the diffuser.
In a time of change, uncertainty, and chaos, stress can manifest in many ways. It’s essential to find calm in your every day, and that can be hard when you’re dealing with everything—including panicked co-workers and endless virtual meetings. So, what better way to clear the negative air than with essential oils? From boosting your immune system, to managing stress, to increasing your overall mood, a few drops in your diffuser can make a huge difference. And if you’re like me and think it’s never too early for pumpkin spice everything, check out these blends. Plug in your diffuser within a few feet of your WFH workspace for optimal soothing scents, all workday long.
Bring the outdoors, in.
A little green never hurt anybody, especially when being inside is becoming the new norm. Make your WFH experience an urban oasis with (drumroll, please) plants! Succulents, ferns, aloe, a plethora of foliage—the list goes on and on. Plants will freshen your air and give you a little *extra* company as you WFH. Where our plant ladies at? Try contacting your local nursery or flower shop to see if they are open and schedule a quiet time to swing by and support your neighborhood business. If going outside right now isn’t possible for you, check out brands like The Sill to find a plant (or two) that can be delivered right to your door. And if you have a brown thumb—hey, we aren’t judging—search for some faux greenery on Amazon. Real or fake, plants can help add a little color to your space (and give your co-workers plant envy on those Zoom calls). Don’t forget a desk-sized one for your new WFH workspace!
How are you building your WFH sanctuary? We want to know! Please share your tips, tricks, and creative ideas when it comes to making your home happening, and tag @mindbody on Instagram!
6
Bring the outdoors, in.
A little green never hurt anybody, especially when being inside is becoming the new norm. Make your WFH experience an urban oasis with (drumroll, please) plants! Succulents, ferns, aloe, a plethora of foliage—the list goes on and on. Plants will freshen your air and give you a little *extra* company as you WFH. Where our plant ladies at? Try contacting your local nursery or flower shop to see if they are open and schedule a quiet time to swing by and support your neighborhood business. If going outside right now isn’t possible for you, check out brands like The Sill to find a plant (or two) that can be delivered right to your door. And if you have a brown thumb—hey, we aren’t judging—search for some faux greenery on Amazon. Real or fake, plants can help add a little color to your space (and give your co-workers plant envy on those Zoom calls). Don’t forget a desk-sized one for your new WFH workspace!
How are you building your WFH sanctuary? We want to know! Please share your tips, tricks, and creative ideas when it comes to making your home happening, and tag @mindbody on Instagram!
Beauty
Unexpected Looks and Learnings from 2020
Share
To put it bluntly—2020 was a real bummer. When we entered the year, we all had that “20/20 vision” mindset of making the year one of travel, joy, discovering new hobbies, and conquering our fitness goals. But come March, that vision became a blurry mess of sheltering-in-place and being forced to throw our normal routines and our aspirations out the window.
Who would have thought that something like getting a haircut would be off-limits? Or that those monthly massages wouldn’t be around to help us unwind? 2020 forced us to get creative, and you blew us away with your stick-to-itiveness.
We recently polled you on Instagram to see which beauty and wellness services you missed the most and how you’ve re-vamped your self-care routines to stay sane during this train wreck of a year. And I must say, as I read your responses in my sweats, rocking the messiest top knot of all time, I definitely felt like I need to take it up a notch when it comes to getting ready for the workday.
Seriously—an alarming number of you have been on point when it comes to sticking to your daily morning routines and actually wearing work clothes while on Zoom calls. Kudos to you!
Curious to see what the takeaways were from our Instagram poll? Keep reading.
Takeaway #1: All beauty services are missed equally
According to your responses, you're all sick of your exposed roots and split ends equally, with 51% of you preferring to get a haircut and 49% opting for hair color. The numbers were also pretty close when it came to your nails—with 52% of you opting for a manicure over a pedicure. Due to the pandemic, the state of the beauty industry has been on a rollercoaster of openings and closings—and they need our help and support now more than ever. If you happen to live in an area where you’re able to enjoy beauty services, make sure you show your stylist or nail artist a little bit of extra love when tipping them.
Takeaway #2: You miss massages, but are ready for touchless spa treatments
Anybody who knows me will tell you the thing I miss the most is getting a monthly massage—and 71% of you seem to agree. With most of us working from our beds or hunched over our laptops on our couches, our posture (if not our comfort) has taken a serious hit. While most of us either live in an area where massages are off-limits or we just don’t feel safe going in for one quite yet, there are some touchless spa treatments you're ready to try.
- 69% of you are interested in trying an infrared sauna treatment—no surprise during the cold winter months. This type of treatment uses light to directly warm your body to increase heart rate, help you sweat out the bad stuff (like all that wine we’ve been drinking), and treat chronic health problems.
- 31% of you are willing to brave the cold of cryotherapy. These sessions aim to decrease inflammation and speed up recovery time after an intense workout by standing in an extremely cold chamber of liquid nitrogen or dry, fresh, oxygenated air.
- 52% of you are down to try out salt caves. Turns out, Himalayan pink salt isn’t just for you fancy home chefs out there. By sitting in an entire room made of this salt, you can relax and potentially treat respiratory and skin issues.
- 48% of you are ready to suit up for a float tank sesh. If you love meditating, this is the perfect touchless spa treatment to try. Float tanks are filled with body-temperature saltwater—and they’re lightless and soundproof. You guys—I’ve tried this and it’s definitely the kind of R&R we all need right now.
Takeaway #3: Your self-care routines are admirable
Call it wishful thinking, but I was fully expecting most of you to say, “Zoom camera off” as your go-to beauty tip—but I guess that’s just me. Instead, you've all been pretty consistent with your morning routines—working out, showering, and dressing like you're actually going into an office. Some of you are even going the extra mile and putting on a red lip and some earrings. I’m taking notes.
And even though this year’s challenges put a damper on our normal routines, it's inspired us to get creative with our skincare regimen. Some of you have added new serums and masks to your skincare arsenal, while others have tried out at-home facials for that quarantine glow. By far, one of the most popular answers was the incorporation of Gua Sha to help detoxify, brighten, and tighten your skin.
This year was one for the books. But I think it made us realize there is always wellness—and that taking care of ourselves is crucial. If you're in an area where in-house beauty services are an option, book that appointment (if you feel safe to do so). If your only option right now is to stay at home, keep carrying on with your feel-good, at-home routines.
If you're curious to see what some other wellness trends you should take note of in 2021, check out this blog.
