As the spring season is approaching, I am sure everyone is starting their “spring cleaning”. This is the time when we all get rid of the old junk in our houses, finally shred the old paperwork we said we were going to months ago, and maybe even throw some fresh paint on those walls. This year it is all about renovating our workspace. The COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy for anyone to adjust to, but many employees have adapted to working from their place of relation, home. Alan Kohll, a contributor from Forbes Magazine writes that “A quality workspace design leads to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere”. Finding ways to create an aesthetically pleasing and peaceful workspace in your home can not only separate your work life from your home life, but can also help you be more productive and less stressed. With remote work becoming the new reality, more people are gravitating towards keeping work virtual. The BBC reported on a study conducted by Slack in which they found out that “Only 12% of employees want to return to full-time office work, and 72% want a hybrid remote-office model moving forward”. With the world we are living in now, this is the reality for a lot of companies. Therefore, it is important that we create spaces for the potential work environment, post-Covid.
When it comes to renovating your workspace, there are many questions that need to be answered: “Where do I start?” “Where am I going to fit this lofty desk?” “Is this coffee machine worth buying?” Many people think that creating a new workspace or refreshing your current one has to be an expensive endeavor. However, you can upgrade your workspace on a budget! The pandemic has improved the online shopping experience now more than ever. Forbes also reported that in a recent survey administered by the Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics, 70% of full-time staff are now working from home since the pandemic started. You are able to transform a boring room into your dream workspace with the click of a mouse. Many companies such as Living Spaces and Modsy allow you to virtually and visually turn your dream into a reality. We have included additional tips below to help you get started:
Declutter Your Space
How can you thrive in a workspace that is full of clutter? Throw away those old books you aren’t reading and dust off that desk. As cliche, as it sounds, throwing out the old, will allow you to bring in the new!
Use What You Have
As tempting as it can be to buy a cute new desk or new rug from IKEA it can also become very expensive. Reuse those containers or bins that you may have laying around first to organize then go treat yourself to something new. Your office and your bank account will thank you later for this!
Bring in Some Light
If it’s possible let some sunshine in! Open those windows. Let those curtains up and let that natural light shine through. This is a completely free way to refresh your workspace and will have a huge impact on your work performance.
Make it More Comfortable
Treat yourself to a new pillow from your local TJ Maxx store or hometown thrift store. This way you are bringing in something new without breaking your pockets. You will feel more comfortable having a pillow to support you while getting work done while also adding some spice to your workspace.
Get Organized
Although this seems self-explanatory it can be hard to get organized. Make a realistic game plan of how you can organize your workspace for you! You can also make a list of things you would like to add to your workspace and set an affordable plan that shows when you can buy them.