Laura Jackson on… the importance of getting the small details right when you’re working from home – and learning to switch off
Our columnist looks at ways to navigate the new 9 to 5 and what we can do to make our homes work a little harder
Across the nation, dining tables have turned into desks and bedrooms have been transformed into backdrops for meetings… For those of us able to work from home, the past 18 months have seen the creation of hybrid work/living spaces. And now, with this new reality looking like it will last (five days a week in the office seeming ever more unlikely), achieving the perfect balance feels like a more pressing task than ever.
At the moment, I have two children under the age of two, so working from my kitchen table tends to be a juggling act. I have no qualms about breastfeeding on Zoom calls or nipping off to answer the doorbell. No ergonomic swivel chair for me, either – I refuse to invite one in on aesthetic grounds. Instead, I prop myself up with a pillow on one of my dining chairs and crack on. It often leaves me quite jealous of my seven-month-old’s bouncer!
Fortunately, I have a plan to gain a little more distance between work and life. I’m currently renovating my basement. Hopefully, once I win my battle to get the wi-fi connection to stretch down there and add some key pieces – I’ve already bought a Nordic Knots rug, but have my eyes on a ‘Cleo’ chair by Stine Aas for Dims – I will be able to reclaim the kitchen for cooking and eating.
Of course, not everyone will be able to carve out a dedicated space for a home office or study, so paying attention to the smaller details is essential. For me, that always starts with a good pen (Muji sells my favourite), a beautiful notebook from Papier and my favourite ‘Soda’ coffee cup by Lily Pearmain Ceramics.
I’ve mentioned before that I’ve gotten into indoor plants of late. I like the idea of them helping to clean the air when I’m cooped up all day and studies have found that they can be good for our mental health. Wherever you set up your desk, a few houseplants will brighten the area up, plus you can hide clutter behind them when you’re on a video call.
One key thing this funny old time has taught me is that boundaries and structure are necessary. I go for a walk every morning, without fail – usually when I drop my daughter off at her child minder. It helps to clear my head and signals the beginning of the working day. The same goes for lunch, which in an ideal world we should enjoy in a separate room. Mine is usually still eaten over my keyboard, but we are all still learning. It’s a process.
Because, while it’s certainly beneficial to enjoy the place you work in, it’s crucial to be able to leave it behind at the end of the day. Whether that means closing the door or simply shutting the laptop and putting it in a drawer, the most important thing of all is to switch off.
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‘NO ERGONOMIC SWIVEL CHAIR FOR ME – I REFUSE TO INVITE ONE IN ON AESTHETIC GROUNDS’