With so many people working from home these days, significant changes are afoot. Gone are the days of wearing suits, and even business-casual dress feels impossibly fancy.
It also gives people granular control of the environment in which they work. Here are some great ways you can make working from home more comfortable and enjoyable.
Appropriate Clothing
People may associate woolen clothes with thick winter sweaters, but the material is perfect for summer clothes. T-shirts, boxers, socks and other clothing made of high-quality Merino wool are very breathable, as the fabric is naturally antibacterial and moisture-wicking.
The best manufacturers like Unbound Merino make very versatile t-shirts you can wear during a big night on the town or a day inside with your laptop. You’ll love wearing these clothes when it’s hot out. They’re also designed to travel and be extremely durable — wrinkle-resistant, soft, stylish and sustainably-sourced, wool is excellent in all seasons and situations.
People joke about working from home in their underwear or from their bed, but it’s hard to concentrate on work when you’re not even dressed.
Cover your feet, too. You may not want to wear shoes indoors, but slippers are perfect. If you have a long and stressful workday, it’ll be easier to bear when you’re wearing cozy slippers. Work clothes may be more casual than ever, but it’s still important to dress to get things done.
Music
When you work from home, you may not need headphones! Everyone’s home living situation is different — you may have the place to yourself, or there could be children running around. But even if you’re alone and you have total control over the music, you don’t necessarily want to just play your favourite songs.
What music helps you concentrate? Many people get distracted by lyrics, so they listen to instrumental music with no singing.
You don’t need to crank up the volume, either. The music is there to help you focus and make the day go by quicker — it needs to add to your ability to get work done, not take away from it.
Work Station
It’s best to get a place at home that puts you in the psychological headspace necessary for work. Pick a seat at your kitchen table and make it your new office.
Outfit this space with whatever supplies you need for work. Make sure the lighting is good and that it’s comfortable. You don’t need a huge amount of physical room, just make sure the space is ergonomic.
You don’t want to be doing your work on a couch. It seems like a good idea, but it’s hard to concentrate at a high level for long periods when you’re that comfortable.
It’s unclear how many people currently working from home will still be doing so in a year. But in the meantime, you’ll enjoy working from home more if you remember to dress appropriately, put on the right music, and carve out a suitable place to do all your work.
