How To Make Your Workspace Work For You

When thinking about where your personalised workspace should be, firstly think about natural light. Positioning yourself by a window will instantly help create an ‘office’ you can love.

Research shows that there are endless benefits of exposure to natural light. When we’re exposed to sunlight, the skin absorbs vitamin D. The “sunshine vitamin” as it’s otherwise known, doesn’t mind if you get your sunlight indoors or out. Meaning; increasing your natural light where you spend the most time, be it home or the workplace, is equally important.

This super vitamin can help to prevent bone loss, reduce the risk of heart disease and weight gain. It’s most widely known for its positive impact on mood and for having a positive effect on SAD (seasonal affective disorder). So open up those curtains and blind and let the daylight flood into your space.

Adding greenery to any space makes it more aesthetically pleasing but also has a profound effect on our wellbeing.

Feeling the pressure of working from home?

Houseplants have been proven to reduce stress levels along with helping you to maintain lower blood pressure. As a result, this seems to make people more productive - a win, win to ensure your mind on the job while at home. Researchers have even found that houseplants can help increase productivity by up to 15%.

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to selecting the right plants for you, improving air quality could be a great place to start. Indoor plants such as the Spider Plant, Aloe Vera and Rubber Plant all help to improve the air quality in our workspace. Houseplants purify the air by filtering out any chemicals in the atmosphere that can cause symptoms like breathing problems, headaches and fatigue. Living in modern homes, we often have poor indoor air quality due to furniture, carpets and modern cleaning products.

There’s no time like the present - why not spruce up your home office, purify air flow and increase positivity by introducing a selection of hardy houseplants.

There’s no denying it, hot beverages are part of our DNA in the UK. A cup of tea, freshly brewed coffee or even a hot chocolate is the way to many of our hearts.

This tip could be the most crucial of all. It’s so important to ensure you’re getting the breaks you need from work. Being at home; comfortable and in your own space, means that more than ever, you need to be able to distinguish the boundaries of work and play. To us that means taking a break.

An easy way to make sure you’re moving away from your screen during the working day is to pop the kettle on and watch your coffee or tea brew (don’t take too long though, it’s only a tea break). You never know, your next genius idea could come to you in those sacred 5 minutes, when you’re able to take your focus away from what you’ve been working on that day.

Now that you’re out of the office, it’s your time to shine! When it comes to making a workspace your own, the possibilities are endless and it’s important to create intrigue and stimulation for your working mind. The beauty of working from home is that you can dictate the environment that makes you more productive and gives you the most enjoyment.

Wave goodbye to overhead artificial office lighting, tiled carpets and facing a wall. Think about how you want to work and take matters into your own hands. The world is now your oyster; in your own home.

Creating points of interest in your workspace helps to add depth and a cosiness that can rarely be achieved in an office environment. To establish a personal and comfortable space, why not hang artwork on your walls alongside natural breathable fabrics, like our natural cotton and linen range. Little things like having a designated work mug and notebook that bring you joy will make the day more productive, because you’re at ease in your space, surrounded by things that you love.

Ditch the structured office attire and opt for being comfortable when working from home. Pop your slippers on, and throw a blanket over the back of your desk chair in case you catch a chill - we all achieve more when we’re in a comfortable space.

Tired of the musty smells in the office? You now have the flexibility to add a scent that you enjoy to your new home office - your space; your nose. Adding a diffuser and essential oils can be a great way to keep your mind focused and can make work feel like a luxury.

Arguably one of the most important senses when at work is sound. So many of us are motivated by music but are unable to select our music of choice whilst in the office. Distractions are abundant when you’re working in a communal space, with conversations and unfavourable music flowing in the background.

Now’s your chance to play the music that gets you in the right headspace to work. You could have morning and afternoon favourites or a relaxing playlist as you begin to unwind at the end of the working day.

Prefer feeling like you’re not alone at work? The radio could be just the ticket. Modern access to DAB radio means that there are hundreds of stations at your fingertips; with presenters that can keep you motivated throughout the day.

If you’re not one for the pressures of creating playlists and can’t find the right radio station for you, white noise could be a brilliant alternative. From bird and nature sounds to hair dryer and hoover noises, the possibilities are endless when it comes to white noise.

The key thing to remember is, you can listen to whatever you choose. No more distracting office background noise - just you, your work and the music. Bliss!