7 Remote Work Design Tips: Rock Your Productivity and Wellbeing
Hello! I hope you are staying safe, healthy and supported out there.
Working From Home? Awesome! Wait…Now What?
Many of us have recently found ourselves working from home. For some of us, maybe it’s even the first time.
Can you use the psychology of design to foster focus, productivity and wellbeing in your home workspace? We sure think so!
Also how about this uses a bit of humor combined with the research too? I don’t know about you, but more smiles sure sound nice to me right now.
How Does This Work?
Once the transition settles, and you discover you can IN-FACT successfully conduct most video conference calls professionally while wearing pajama bottoms, a dress shirt and a blazer
… HOW can you create the best workspace from home using some science for wellbeing and productivity?
(P.S. your secret is safe here. Signed, your current Spongebob pants wearing friend)
Here are a few quick suggestions to keep in mind as you create your home office with the psychology of design using many items from your existing home.
Tips shown on image of my real life home work space taken from a smart phone. Why? Because life is real and rarely has ideal lighting :)
Enhancing Focus and Wellbeing Using the Psychology of Design
7 Tips to Rock Your Remote Work Through Design Psychology
Protect Your Back (Yo’ Six):
Have a solid wall behind you if possible. We feel subconsciously safer =less fight or flight response engaged via our amygdala. Less stress typically results in stronger ability to focus. No wall possible? Consider a bookshelf, the back of furniture, a tall backed chair or a room dividing screen. Have at least a peripheral view to a window if possible.
Pull in Nature (incorporate biophilia)
We feel calm in nature and it’s really good for our wellbeing. There’s a science to it called biophilia. Turns out, we can pull that science into the design of our spaces. There’s a wide range of strategies (nearly 73 in fact) that you can use, though not advised to use all of them.
Face desk to see out a window, have a candle at your desk, pull in natural materials, plants, colors, etc. Here’s an article sharing more detail on biophilic design I recently wrote if you’re interested!
Express Gratitude
Engage higher brain waves fostering wellbeing, creativity and productivity by displaying objects that evoke appreciation.
Just like having our back exposed engages a fight or flight response, we can use our environments to engage a positive response in our minds and bodies.
Consider integrating elements that get you in a state of appreciation (think gratitude journal activity, but translated into items in your physical space) such as a thank you card, family photos, or an award you won for rocking your work! Make these items are easy to see from your workspace.
Want to know more on this and how gratitude fosters neurological wellbeing? Check out info in this article.
Define Everyone’s Space
Have everyone in the household create their own workspace.
Make it fun and co-creative! Maybe the kids, home from school, create a fort nook in the corner of the living room for homework (while also keeping them entertained ie. allowing you to focus). Maybe you create a “cloffice” (closet office) or a reading nook under the stairs.
Avoid the bedroom and dining table for full-time work, if at all possible, to differentiate workspace from living space.
If you work too long in the areas our brains know as “refuge, home, etc” it can create a new message of the space intention to your mind and body. This can make it difficult for your body to fully rest in those spaces in the future.
End of the world if this is where you have to work? No. Just create a new strong intention for the desired emotions of that space once it’s no longer a remote office. Ideally, you’ll basically strive to rewire your mind and body back to the original feeling of those home spaces and away from workmode emotions.
Foster Boundaries
Communicate boundaries around times you need to focus to house members.
Maybe you create a fun game out of it - via red, yellow and green flags to show your work state. If you’re focusing =red flag so ask not to be disrupted unless it’s an emergency. Hey, it’s worth a shot and has worked well in many spaces. .
Create physical, acoustical and visual boundaries to define each person’s workspace with bookshelves, area carpets, furniture, literal rooms with doors to separate work and life, headphones for acoustical privacy, etc.
Respect each other’s spaces and their current work state of mind (focus, collaboration, creative, social, etc).
Integrate natural materials, colors, textures, daylight and plants as some ways to pull biophilic design into your space. Also change your postures (sitting, standing, lounging) to enhance health and wellbeing.
6. Ergonomics:
Make sure your work set-up supports the needs of your body. Use an adjustable chair if possible (missing from home office image). Take a look at the incredible wide range of resources and charts available online in this area to learn more specifics.
Change Postures multiple times throughout the day from desk-height seating, to lounging to standing-height. Maybe you work at your desk for a bit then move to work while standing at your kitchen island on a conference call then sit on a cushion on the floor while reviewing a report or brainstorming new ideas for a project. Changing your posture throughout the day is not only essential for your wellbeing, but it can also help improve happiness and creativity!
7. Deep Breaths:
We’re all in this together. Be kind to yourself and to each other. You’ve got this. We’ve got this.
Deep Inhale. Hold. Deep Exhale. Repeat. :)
Until next time. Be safe, loving and well, my friends!
Warmly,
Bonnie
Have any questions?
Let’s chat at bonnie@interweavepeopleplace.com
Interweave People Place is a co-creative design and research partner helping you uncover the awesome in you through the creation of spaces that nurture your love of life.