Reimagining spaces
Decluttering and schedules are key to turning your home into a efficient area for work and school
With many parents still working from home and school districts around New Mexico set to begin the school year virtually, families are faced with the challenge of reimagining their homes for office and classroom space.
The right set-up and right approach can help alleviate some of the stress associated with this unlikely and unusual time.
Local professional organizer Miriam Ortiz y Pino, who owns More Than Organized (morethanorganized.net), said the solution can be simple. The keys are to declutter, a tip she offers for all organizational needs, and prepare.
“Remove all items you don’t need for the work space,” she said. “The biggest mistake people make is they don’t declutter.”
She said that includes not buying a lot of new supplies and using up what’s already at home. She said to keep supplies to the basics like pens, pencils, paper and perhaps a stapler.
“But not a gazillion of them,” she said. “Now is the time to use all of that someday stuff you stocked up on. Now is that some day.”
Here are some tips for getting the home set-up for work and school.
Preparation
■ Determine what needs there are before going out and investing in new stuff or shuffling furniture. How many people need a space? Is a desk needed? Is the internet at home adequate?
■ Create a schedule. Professional organizer Hazel Thornton said it’s important to have a schedule that designates the start and finish of the work and school day. It should incorporate breaks to eat, move around and mentally reset.
■ Invest in new storage to keep the work space organized.
■ Buy all the snacks and groceries before the week starts to avoid having to run to the store in the middle of the work day. Maybe even create a lunch menu so time isn’t wasted trying to find something to make at the last minute.
Creating work and classroom areas
■ Decide where the work is going to take place and keep it consistent. Mom and dad might need a room with a door if space allows. Children — especially those who require less supervision — might be able to have their work station in their bedrooms. But if this is not possible, Ortiz y Pino said consider nooks, unused large closets or sectioning off parts of the living or dining area.
■ Give everyone a designated work space they go to every day. Ortiz y Pino said this is an important step even if that designated spot is on the couch, at the kitchen table or a countertop.
■ Create supply kits, which can be a box, basket or bin, that can be moved and set aside at the end of each day if the work space is used for other purposes such as in the dining or living room.
“You need a designated space for the kit to live,” she said.
■ Be mindful of the environment. Thornton said a bright, well lit and comfortable area is best. Those who are required to make a lot of video calls have another consideration according to Ortiz y Pino. She said they should be aware of what is visible on camera.
“Consider the background,” she said. “Is there a lamp growing out of your head? Are there posters? What are they? Are they political? Is there a velvet painting of dogs playing cards? What message might these things be sending?”
Setting everyone up for success
■ Have clear rules and expectations. Designating certain times of the day as offlimits for children to interrupt parents, such as during important meetings or when the door is closed, alleviates frustrations. Also sticking to the schedule is important so children know when the school and work day end and begin. Consider posting the schedule and even the rules in a visible location.
■ Determine who will be responsible for pets during the day. Letting pets in and out of the house, feeding them or attending to other needs can be a distraction.
■ Practice discipline. It might be tempting to watch a favorite show or even take a nap but keep the length of personal activities the same time as normal work and school breaks. Avoid taking too many personal phone calls or spending too much time on social media. These can derail a productive day.
■ Mentally prepare. Ortiz y Pino said it’s important to create rituals around the work and school day since typical behaviors, such as commuting to work, won’t exist. She suggests showering and handling other grooming each morning as if one were leaving the house.
“Maybe don’t stay in your pajamas all day,” she said. “Get dressed every day.”
Creating a routine to signify the end of the day is important too because it creates a boundary between home and work life. Packing up the workspace, shutting off the computer, getting up and going for a walk in the backyard or down the street can help shift the mind from work to home mode.