The evolution of the ‘Home Office’
With so many of us now working from home, I can’t help but reflect on the rising importance of a home office for buyers today and into the future. Buyer preferences have shifted in line with changes in technology that have allowed many to work from home in a part-time or full-time capacity. When I was growing up, computers were just coming into our homes as the personal computer (PC) became the latest ‘thing’. The computer was nestled in a corner of the living room and then over the years, earned a place of its own in a life admin nook near the kitchen before graduating to a small room of its own. The Study had arrived onto floorplans across suburbia.
Over the years I’ve seen many versions of the Study from dark and tiny nooks to full-blown rooms with external entrances custom-made for working from home, but it’s a clear and growing trend I have seen with my clients over the years that an attractive and inviting study is high on many buyers’ wish lists. In fact, when it’s high on the list of priorities, it’s often referred to as a Home Office instead of a study. This small change in terminology has the potential to be a whole lot more than it seems on the surface. Could this shift in demand for an attractive, well-lit office at home be an opportunity to add value to your property while also carving out a much-needed space for effective productivity this year?
While we’re spending a lot more time at home, it’s clear many of us are thinking about domestic improvements. Bunnings sold out of paint and vegetable seedlings among other things so it might be a great time to look at how you can make changes at home that could add value and make your work life easier at the same time. The demand for light, bright and inviting home office spaces is a trend that I believe is here to stay. Perhaps if the budget and land size allows, consider a granny flat/backyard room. It’s a great way of having an office at home, without working from inside the home.
Source: Houzz.com.au
In our household, I’m quite used to working from home. I’ve been doing so for over six years now and I have learned what works for me and what doesn’t.
However, I’m not used to having three other noisy humans trying to adjust their own patterns so I’ve had to remind myself that it’s sometimes difficult and takes time to find your groove. You’ve probably seen many ‘how to’ articles about getting yourself set up to work effectively from home but honestly, hardly any of those typical dot points worked for me. Until I found what did.
If you’re struggling to adjust to this New Normal I can tell you from my hard-won testing what works, and what doesn’t. Be warned: it’s not what you might be expecting to hear.
Don’t dress for ‘work’.
Yep - forget the workwear rule. It seems every single list lately tells you that you should stick to a routine and show up in your usual workwear, just like you would at the office. Wrong! This is the easiest one to throw out the window. Throw it far, my friend. Far, far out the window.
I get dressed for what’s on my schedule, not what’s expected in the office buildings of the CBD. I do some of my best work in comfortable casual clothes when I haven’t spent an hour of the most productive part of my day getting camera-ready. I do acknowledge that meetings and in-person tasks require a professional appearance but if that’s not part of your day right now, embrace glasual as the new dress code and get a whole lot more done.Work to your own schedule
Okay, this might not work for some but there’s 24 hours in every day and Dolly Parton working her 9 to 5 is gone across many industries. Notice when you’re most alert and aim to get your meaty tasks done then. Are you a morning person or a night owl? When do you find you typically slump and how long does that last? I’ll often batch my meetings or non-urgent phone calls for the afternoon so that I’ve got time to GSD and switch off notifications for some serious head-down time when I’m most alert.Rest
If you’re tired, rest. Take a break if your body is telling you to. Try the Pomodoro technique or set a timer for some regular time away from the desk. Without the staff morning tea session or coffee run to segment your day it’s good to test some other patterns and see what works for you. If I need some downtime during a busy day, I’ll take it. A quick siesta is essential for being on my game for evening mid-week auctions or meetings with clients once they’ve finished work for the day. Getting to that twitchy stage of rest can reset your brain for a hugely productive afternoon. If your days are filled with homeschooling and your evenings are for work, have zero guilt in taking that power nap when you need it most.How to avoid snacking
This one took me the longest to figure out and it’s had the biggest impact on my work day. I’d often work solidly only to look up and it’s 2pm - and suddenly I’m famished. Or I’d be getting up from my desk every hour to wander into the kitchen. Not ideal. Top tip: pack your lunch. Whether that’s portioning out last night’s leftovers or making a sandwich, get it done at the beginning of the day when your intentions are good and before your stomach starts making any old decisions. Snacks included. I’ve invested in a large bento box so that it’s easy to put a range of snacky foods and a more substantial lunch in one easy, go-to box. Like a grazing plate if that’s your fancy; who said lunch had to be boring, after all?
Use your other senses
It’s funny how a scent can remind us of an excellent holiday, or a favourite song takes you back. The brain is great at making associations so use this to your advantage. Put a fluffy rug under your office chair or remove all visual distractions with a completely clear desk. I’ll burn some citrus oils when I’m working and put on a specific playlist in the background to help me focus. I find it helps me to ‘switch on’ when it’s work time, and then step away and put work aside to really be present with the family when it’s not.Get a little OCD
Having a morning routine allows me to get my head around the tasks for the day. Whether that’s morning exercise for you, a quiet cup of tea or making a list, if you don't already have a morning routine then you might like to read The Miracle Morning to help you achieve more out of your morning. My own routine goes right down to the details of drawing the curtains, putting my music and oils on, getting a cold glass of water on my desk and firing up the computer. It’s as though my brain is on auto-pilot.
Similarly, at the end of the working day there’s power in shutting down your devices and your brain so that you can rest effectively. A basic checklist to run through to say to your body that the work day has come to an end. Simple yet very, very effective. If you’re guilty of checking emails late at night or scrolling through social media, try setting some screen limits to break that automatic pattern of behaviour.Stay connected
Working from home can be, well, isolating. Try new apps that go beyond emails or FB Messenger - have a bit of fun with Marco Polo, a Zoom chat with friends for virtual happy hour or set up a new wine club among your mates. Even streaming your favourite shows is now a social thing; check out Netflix Party on Google.
Search Facebook to find and join your suburban group page and stay in touch with your local community. Even though we can’t meet up for a coffee right now, these past couple of weeks have been some of the most active in the suburbs that I can remember. Kids are out participating in #chalkyourwalk or assembling bears in the front windows. Tonight we’ll be colouring in Easter egg pages thanks to Jacinda Arden’s post I saw today to give the kids in our community an Easter egg hunt to remember. It might not seem like much, but as we turn inwards and stay home to flatten the curve our beautiful suburbs are coming alive with great ideas and ways to feel like we’re all in this together.
Forgive me for getting a little off-topic this time around, but I know many of us are struggling to adapt to this whole #WFH concept. I’ve had so many more distractions and interruptions than usual so I’ve switched up my routine to accommodate that. It’s not perfect, but it’s an improvement. And that’s the best we can do right now.
Stay safe, stay sane, and I’d love to hear what has worked for you in this era of establishing our New Normal and finding productivity at home!
Happy Easter,
Claire