How to Set up a Mindful Workspace at Home
Working in an office setting will always be productive; since everyone around you is also working on their own desks, there is constant office banter, gossip and meetings to keep your day going. However, you lose all of that when you work from home. Yes, you can message your colleague to chat about random things while working but it’s just not the same. This is why working from home can sometimes get boring and even stressful. When your workspace is not interesting enough to keep you motivated then you won’t be able to get any work done which results in you stressing about work.
If you’re wondering why your workspace at home doesn’t get you motivated enough, we can help. This article contains a few tips on how to create a productive workspace at home that is mindful and practical at the same time.
How To Create a Workspace at Home?
Creating a workspace at home is not very hard. All you need is enough space for a desk and a chair. If you have a room, you can consider adding shelves and cabinets to store work files and papers. You can always add an additional couch and coffee table to the area if the room is big enough. Always make sure that the furniture you get and the decorations you put are according to your liking. Even though you are supposed to work in this space and not spend your time lounging around, you need to ensure that your surroundings are interesting enough to keep you up and about. Most importantly, make sure that the room is well lit with enough natural light and floor and desk lamps to prevent you from squinting your eyes too much.
A Mindful Space
Mindfulness as a concept has been gaining a lot of attention not just within the workspace but in just about every aspect of life. Being in the right headspace is very important to keep you going especially if you are cooped up in the house or spending 8-10 hours a day in front of your work desk. Mindfulness is important to clear your mind and make you feel completely present and aware of a situation. It does not require you to take time out and meditate, that will help though, it’s more about being aware of your surroundings and awakening your senses to everything around you. Mindfulness is all about being conscious of your thoughts and emotions as well.
All this combined will help you relax a little more and will definitely help reduce stress. However, if you’re sitting in a workspace that doesn’t give your mind and your senses room to breathe, your attempt at being mindful won’t work.
Make It a Little More Natural
Include more natural materials in your workspace. From wooden desks to jute rugs, natural materials have a soothing vibe that you need when you’re working for long hours. There are so many different styles of wooden office desks that are perfect for your home. Some of them come with storage options while others have a basic and simple design. Just remember that when we refer to natural materials, it is better if they are in their natural colour as well.
If you have an entire room for your home office, we recommend decorating the room with rattan chairs and a wooden coffee table. Wooden shelves and cabinets are a great way to use up any empty space and also offer extra storage. Stone is also a great option for furniture. Stone-top tables also add a natural warmth to the room. You may not feel like it makes a lot of difference but just the presence of natural materials makes your sense feel a little more relaxed.
Clean Up and Make It Green
Have you ever noticed that when you have to work on a cluttered office desk you get more frustrated? The clutter around you leads your mind to get cluttered with work and other stresses as well. Whether it is just your desk or the entire room, we suggest keeping it clean and organised. De-clutter your desk, use desk organisers for files and papers, a pen stand and tiny desk drawers for small stationery items and more.
Another important and according to us must-have for your workspace is the addition of plants. We suggest having a small potted plant on your desk. It is important to break your focus from your computer screen every now and then to look at something green.
Calm the Senses
When you are stressed, all your senses also tend to get strained especially when you have to sit in one place for hours on end. While you can’t completely close yourself off to everything that is going on in your mind, you can try and focus your attention and calm your mind. Natural furniture and the addition of plants make a huge difference. The green from the plants, the earth tones of the furniture and the fresh smell of leaves can be very relaxing.
However, you can take it a step further with a diffuser or a scented candle. Natural scents such as lemon, peppermint and jasmine are great in such a situation. Just placing a diffuser on your desk can help clear your mind. A pleasant smell has a soothing impact on your mind just like a clean and de-cluttered space. We wouldn’t recommend having a scented candle on the table but you can easily place one in a corner of the room.
If a pleasant smelling room can be calming, a clean smell can also make a difference. Being cooped up in a small space for hours can lead to the room smelling foul after a few days. An air purifier can ensure that your workspace smells fresh and clean every morning.
A Zen Atmosphere
Decorating your office desk is always a good idea, whether it is in an office setting or your home office. Lights and small decorative pieces can really brighten up the room and also lift your mood. Signature pieces like a Selenite bowl with rose quartz tumble LED lamp, wellness crystals or a tiny tabletop zen fountain can make your workspace pop. If small things like this make you happy, then you should decorate your table with them. At the end of the day, a mindful space would be incomplete without items that lift your mood.
A Splash of Colour
Decorating a workspace doesn’t mean you keep things dull and monotonous. Add some colour to the room and to your desk. Along with comfortable office furniture, you can brighten up the room with a colourful rug and add some paintings to the wall. Paintings with cool shades such as blue, green and purple can be gentle for the eyes especially after they’ve been looking at a screen for hours.
Complete The Look
Your mindful workspace would not be complete if your office furniture is not comfortable. Mindfulness comes from calming your mind and your senses to make them more aware of your surroundings. But how can you relax if your body is not comfortable? You will need a desk that is big enough to accommodate your computer, keypad, mouse and anything else you need for work. Another important piece of furniture you will need for your workspace is an office chair. The right office chair makes everything better. If you want to know what makes an office chair worth buying then you can refer to our article.
Lastly, a calm and stable mind will always allow you to work to your full potential. So, adorn your workspace with the things that make you happy. If you like music, get yourself a set of speakers for the room or a pair of headphones. Get a mood lamp or a stylish lamp for an extra bit of lighting for your workspace. Keep your collection of essential oils in a storage box if you have an aroma diffuser that needs essential oils. Decorate your desk with your favourite figurines or collectables. Store a few snacks near your desk and make sure that you have access to water, tea or coffee at any time. All these things combined will ease your mind and help you get your work done as smoothly as possible.
