MINNEAPOLIS - How's that home office working for you?
When we were told to stay home in March, workers hastily set up workspaces at home, many assuming it was a short-term fix and they'd soon go back to business as usual. Now, as life in the pandemic era grinds on, many of those makeshift offices are showing their shortcomings.
Even professionals have struggled with the transition.
"It was pretty chaotic the first week," said Sarah Cronin, owner of Simply Inspired Home Organizing.
As a professional organizer, her business was already home-based, but now she's home all the time, coaching clients virtually. And her husband, an engineering project manager, and their four school-age children all need workspaces at home, too.
"It took us three weeks to figure out this situation," Cronin said. Her husband, who has to be on video calls all day, eventually took over her lower-level office.
Cronin, who has more flexibility, now works at the family dining table, a space she shares with three of their children. She marked the table with masking tape to delineate each workstation, and equipped each child with a bin for their school supplies, stored on the nearby china cabinet, so they can quickly clear the table for family meals.
Interior designer Sue Hunter, owner of Home for a Change, moved her office from a spare bedroom to her dining room. "I spend more time at home now - I can't go down (to showrooms) to choose fabrics," she said. "I moved my office to a sunny spot to make me feel better."
Even as business offices reopen under the easing of the lockdown, Hunter, whose work includes commercial and residential office design, predicts that more work will be done from home than before the pandemic.
So instead of settling for the office you cobbled together, now's a good time for an upgrade - "so you don't feel you're trapped in that space but that you enjoy being in that space," said Hunter.
You're the office manager, after all.
"It's a fun time to embrace your space," said professional organizer Lisa Wendt, owner of Lisa D. Wendt. "If you want 24 'Star Wars' action figures on your desk, you can do it. If you like flowers or air fresheners, you don't have to worry about (colleagues') allergies. Make the best of a not-so-fabulous situation."
Here are some ideas:
Is There A Better Location?
The work spot you chose at first may not be the optimal one. Start by assessing how much space you really need to work effectively, Wendt advised. Then walk around your home with an appraising eye.
"You might see a new location you haven't really thought about," she said. Even a closet can be converted into a workspace with the addition of an adjustable desk and shelving system that can easily be repurposed for general storage. Make sure your space has a good Wi-Fi connection. "Take your laptop or phone around the house to test hot spots," said Wendt.
Is Your Office Comfortable?
Ergonomics matter. "Dining room chairs are not meant to be sat on eight hours a day," said Cronin, who uses a folded towel to support her lower back. A lumbar pillow also can help a chair provide better comfort and support, Wendt noted.
Desk and chair height are important. Optimally, your wrists should be straight, elbows at 90 degrees, according to Wendt. Knees should be level with hips. If your work chair is uncomfortable it may be time to order a new one.
Cronin's husband set his computer on a box to create a standing workstation. For those who prefer to work standing up, consider a floor mat to cushion the feet.
Are Files And Supplies In Disarray?
Both can easily overwhelm a makeshift office that wasn't set up to handle them.
"Whatever management system you have at the office, try to replicate at home, so you're not buried under piles of things," Cronin said.
Hunter doesn't like papers lying around, especially now that her office is visible from her living room. "I got some pretty boxes for storage so it doesn't look messy," she said, in aqua to complement her home's color scheme. "They look like they belong in the room," she said. "It's important to make it pretty so you look at it and feel comfortable in your workspace."
Wendt likes three-tier rolling carts sold by the Container Store that come in different colors and can be moved from room to room. They're currently on sale, she noted, with curbside pickup available.
Does Your Office Make You Smile?
Even a temporary office doesn't have to be drab and utilitarian. Make it a space that you enjoy.
Start with a theme and a color scheme, Hunter suggests. "What makes you happy? If you love the beach, get some pretty artwork in beachy colors."
Self-stick murals are an affordable way to personalize a space, she said. Or create a travel wall, with photos of places you've visited.
Order some stackable shelving cubes in simple black or white. If they have backs, dress them up with self-adhesive wallpaper. "If your room makes you happy, you're going to be happy."
Do You Have Enough Light?
"Good lighting is crucial," said Wendt. "A computer screen shouldn't be your only light." Scout the house for a lamp you can move to your office. Add daylight bulbs, which are designed to imitate natural sunlight, said Cronin. "It's important for mental health to have daylight."
Good lighting also will enhance your appearance on Zoom calls, "so you're not in the shadow and have a nice glow on your face," said Wendt. Speaking of virtual meetings
What Impression Are You Making?
Participating in meetings from home puts you and your home in the spotlight. Wendt cited a person who was on a call with someone in a messy room. "There was a guy talking on screen and behind him was a disaster," she said. "It looked very tacky."
Before your next call, do a test run with video and get feedback on how you look and sound, she suggested, including whether you tend to talk too loudly, too softly, or to fidget and produce a blurry, distracting image.
If you need to block an unsightly view, consider a room-divider screen to put behind your workspace, she suggested. Or a trifold display board, dressed up with attractive wrapping paper, can provide a simple backdrop. And make sure to set up your workstation so that you're at eye level on calls.
Do You Need Better Technology?
Most home offices aren't equipped with the technology required for today's work demands. If you have the resources, it may be worth investing in your workstation.
A high-resolution monitor is easier on the eyes than a laptop screen, and more ergonomic, she added. If not having access to a printer is slowing you down, consider buying an all-in-one printer/scanner.
If you don't have a surge protector, now is the time to get one, with early-summer storms on the horizon, so that you don't risk losing your data to a lightning strike. And make sure you have sufficient backup.