Let there be good lighting: Work-from-home veteran shares her tips, insights
Having worked from my house for over 20 years, I’m here to say all those how-to-do-it-properly articles with rigid rules for things like office hours and proper attire are home-office hogwash.
Whether you’re in a designated home office, or winging it at a kitchen island in a condo, I believe essentials really boil down to two things; good lighting and seating that fits the surface you’re using as desk space. Natural light is nice to have, but do make sure there’s adequate overhead or task lighting, preferably both. If necessary, redeploy a table or floor lamp from another part of the house.
If you don’t have an office chair, make do with the sturdiest one you can find, ideally with arms. If you sit at a counter, have a chair with a foot rest. Soften hard seats with a pillow or folded blanket.
Beyond that, personalize your day to suit your personality. I don’t work well, for example, if I haven’t eaten. But I also don’t like eating eat breakfast. My solution is to drink a morning smoothie — water, juice or milk mixed with a small scoop of protein powder, and frozen fruit — while I read and respond to emails.
Hamilton Beach (www.hamiltonbeach.ca) has a selection of single-serve blenders that are excellent for this, especially if you are short on counter-space. My favourite is the Go Sport Blender, because the blender vessel also serves as double-walled drinking jar, and has a handy travel lid. Under $40 at Amazon. Go to www.aroundthehouse.ca for recipes and tips.
Because I love to cook, I break up morning work with a trek to the kitchen to see what’s available for dinner or, possibly, defrost or prep something to save time later on. But to remind me to keep moving later in the day, I now have a terrific little office helper: the Fitbit Versa smart watch I was sent to test.
Fitbit has just launched a Charge 4 series, which has a combination of sensors and features, like built-in GPS and Spotify, that tracks daily steps and exercise sessions, and reminds me to get up from my desk once an hour, and to hydrate.
If I have a walk planned, I can check the weather on the Versa; if it’s bad, I can choose instead to follow a workout session on the device or take a tea break and listen to music. I’ve used the breathing app a couple of times. At night, it monitors sleep quality and quantity.
Go to www.fitbit.com to get info on pricing, new models, premium content, and to order. Prices start at about $200.
Some people just don’t like working from home, even when it’s not forced on them by a global pandemic.
If you find yourself becoming overly stressed or distracted, the Public Health Agency of Canada (www.canada.ca) has a message; fear and worry are natural responses to the current threat. For some, that will present as extreme concern about their own health and that of loved ones. Sleeping and eating might be disrupted, and concentrating can be difficult. Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs may increase.
How to cope? Stay informed through, and be guided by, federal, provincial and municipal governments. Take breaks from news and social media. Make an effort to regularly stop work to stretch, move, or meditate. Balance healthy foods with comforting treats, exercise however you can, get enough sleep and avoid too many stimulants.
If you are doing this with kids in tow, accept that there will be interruptions. Know that many of them will be hilarious. Be patient with them, and with yourself. Don’t expect peak productivity or peak parenting right now. If you have a partner, consider scheduling alternate “office hours” for both, during which the other can do kid duty.
If you start to feel really alone and isolated, call a friend. Remember that there is always someone who will listen, and that in Canada, you can access them through www.crisisservicescanada.ca (1-833-456-4566).
Stay safe.