Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 4.1 percent of the US labor force worked from home. At the height of the pandemic, this figure rose to 69 percent.

While a lot of these workers have now gone back to the office full-time, there are many others still working from home and adapting to the challenges this presents. One of which is separating your work life from your personal life when your kitchen table is also your desk!

Here are some ways to help you find balance when working from home.

Set a Schedule

Even if you’re a freelancer or your employer doesn’t follow a rigid timetable, sticking to a regular schedule can help reduce your stress levels and increase productivity. This also means making sure to log off and avoid work emails once your shift is over to avoid blurring the lines between your work and home life.

Design a Dedicated Workspace

Creating the right work environment is key to a productive day of telecommuting. Even if you’re not able to set up a home office in your spare room, try to avoid working from a shared area such as the kitchen table as this can lead to discord in your home environment.

Instead, carve out a dedicated office space complete with a desk, chair, and other accessories in a guest room or the corner of your living room. This is often enough to create the feel of an office setup and help you get into the right mindset for a day of work.

Take Regular Breaks

While the nature of remote working makes it easier to move from task to task without interruption, this means that remote workers often forget to take breaks as they would in an office environment. Taking regular breaks from work helps improve concentration, increase productivity, and boost mood so it’s essential that you factor them into your schedule.

Chat With Colleagues

Missing those chats you and your work buddies used to have around the water cooler? Why not recreate them from home?! Schedule 10 minutes per day to connect with your co-workers via Slack or Zoom about non-work related topics. As well as giving your brain a break, these conversations are vital for building relationships and boosting your morale.

Get Outside

A two-second commute from your bed to your desk is a big advantage of working from home. But it’s all too easy to go entire days without stepping foot outside when you work and live in the same space.

Make sure to include time for activities in the fresh air, whether that means strolling around the yard while you’re on a conference call or heading out to a local park to eat your lunch. Even better, finishing your day with a quick workout or a coffee with a friend is the perfect way to disconnect from work after sitting alone in your home office all day.

Achieving Balance When Working From Home

It can be hard to separate your work and home life when your home also has to double up as your office.

But, with these tips to guide you, it should now be a lot easier to achieve balance when working from home. Especially if you set yourself up for success with the right tools and equipment!

For more information or recommendations about home office design, feel free to get in touch with us at Workspace Solutions today!

A good office is like a well-functioning machine. There are lots of different components, but they all work together in tandem to serve a purpose. Employees, management, equipment – the list goes on.

And if the office is the machine, then an office filing system is the fuel. You need it in order to properly function.

So, what happens when there’s no fuel? Your machine doesn’t run!

If you want to improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace, you’re going to need an effective office filing system. You can have the best, most qualified workers, or the most cutting-edge technology, but disorganized office files can stop productivity in its tracks.

Don’t be intimidated! Here are some tips to help you out. Read on to learn how to organize your office filing system!

1. Use a Clear & Consistent Naming Method

When learning how to organize an office filing system, the first step is to consider your file and folder names. You don’t want to have to sort through every single document in the office before you find what you’re looking for.

The name of the file alone should be enough to tell you if it’s the one you need. Keep it simple, but informative. Consider using abbreviation methods and including the date in the file name for easier organization and better clarity.

2. Dispose of Unnecessary Files

There’s no point in holding onto files you don’t need, and yet it’s extremely common in offices! Clutter can easily build up over time, taking up space and adding to the disarray of your office filing system.

It’s a good idea to schedule a time to go through old files. You might start with choosing one day every month to sort through all your documents and recycle and/or shred ones that you no longer need.

3. Avoid Overfilling

Another great way to declutter your files is to break down your folders into subfolders! If you have certain folders that are filled to the brim, consider creating subcategories to split up the documents. This organization within organization can bring order to the chaos.

4. Establish an Active File System

Active file systems are areas for files that you use and refer to regularly. This could also include actionable or time sensitive items. You can improve your office filing system organization by placing active files in an easily-accessible area so that you don’t have to dig through the system every time you need them!

5. Follow a Consistent File Order

Organizing office files can take many different forms. Categorical, alphabetical, chronological – the list goes on. Color-coding files is also a tried and true method that can help you find what you need from a single glance.

You could even use multiple methods in subfolders. For example, if you organize your main folders by category, you can organize the items in each category alphabetically.

6. Digitize, Digitize, Digitize

In an increasingly technological world, it’s important that offices stay up-to-date with modern organization methods. Digitizing your files will help you with that!

It’s an easy way to declutter the office and still archive files, which is good if you don’t have much physical storage space. It’s also easier to share online files with many people, and it’s better for the environment to boot!

Find the Best Office Filing System for You

Having a strong and well-organized office filing system is a surefire way to make sure your office operates smoothly. There’s no better way to create an efficient, productive, and healthy workplace environment!

Contact us to learn more about office organization!

Office environments have a tendency to feel a little . . . sterile. And if you’re like many office workers, you find that such a sterile environment bores you out of your mind. 

One way to inject some personality into an office space is by adding plants. Plants will not only alter the aesthetics of an office but they’ll also provide a little visual variation for those who work in that office. They’ll also help clean the air which is an added benefit, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interested in adding plants to your office? Curious as to the best low-maintenance office plants in existence? Here are 5 of them!

1. Cactus

They’re unique, they’re prickly, and they’re exceedingly easy to care for. We are, of course, speaking of cacti. 

These guys come in all shapes and sizes and will undoubtedly bring some atmosphere to your office. Just be sure to place them in spaces where they can’t hurt passersby, like on a desk or window sill. 

2. Spider Plant

You’ve probably seen hundreds of spider plants in your day. This long-leafed plant is one of the most common office plants in existence. 

Not only does it provide an intriguing look, but it’s also extremely easy to take care of. Capable of surviving without direct sunlight, it can actually thrive under the beam of fluorescent lights.

3. Aloe Plant

Strong, sturdy, and one of the most low-maintenance plants in existence, the aloe plant is perfect for placement in offices. Sporting a quaint and controlled aesthetic, it looks great on a window sill. 

Aloe plants rarely need water and can get by with indirect sunlight. In most cases, you only need to water them every 3 weeks or so. 

4. Snake Plant

Aptly named, the snake plant looks like a bundle of snakes. Characterized by thick, straight leaves, it’s compact and symmetrical. Though it would look best on a window sill, it can add a lot to desks as well. 

As far as maintenance goes, snake plants are on the low end of the spectrum. They can thrive with indirect sunlight and only need to be watered every 2 to 5 weeks. 

5. Bamboo Palm

If you’re looking for something a little bigger, you should consider buying a bamboo palm. These stand between 3 and 10 feet tall and can bring a great deal of atmosphere to their respective rooms. 

When it comes to maintenance and care, the bamboo palm is almost self-sufficient. It needs only small amounts of indirect sunlight and only needs to be watered sporadically. Just feel for dry soil and add water every time you find it.

Adding Life with Office Plants

Now that you have some great choices for the best plants for your office, to add life and to purify air, add even more color and life by planting them in fun pots to show off your style.

Office work isn’t physically taxing in the traditional sense. However, it can still have adverse effects on the body. If you work in an office, it’s wise to stretch periodically throughout the workday to prevent discomfort or injury.

Need some good office stretching exercises? Check out these 4 office stretches for office workers. 

1. Shoulder Shrug

Throughout the workday, a great deal of stress is bound to build up in the area around your neck and upper back. Shoulder shrugs are a great idea to loosen this area up on occasion. 

To perform this stretch, stand up with your arms to your side. Then, pull your shoulders up and your shoulder blades together, scrunching your neck in the process. Hold this position for 2 to 3 seconds and repeat it 5 to 10 times.

This stretch will not only loosen up the muscles in your upper back, neck, and shoulders, but it will also help to relieve headaches. 

2. Waist Twist

Whether you’re sitting or standing all day, your lower back is forced to support a great deal of weight. This can cause it to become sore throughout the workday. 

To relieve some of this soreness, you should engage in waist twists. A waist twist is a stretch in which you move your torso to the left or the right while leaving your feet and legs in a constant position. It should be performed with a straightened spine, and with your hands on your hips. 

To get the most out of this stretch, alternate to the left and to the right 5 to 10 times for 2 or 3 sets. 

3. Chest Extension

You’re also likely to experience stress in your chest. To relieve this stress, try some chest extensions. 

A chest extension is a stretch wherein you pull your chest upward. It can be performed in both sitting and standing positions.

To perform a chest extension, straighten your arms and back, and then pull your straightened arms behind your back. This will force your chest in an upward trajectory, allowing you to stretch the muscles in your core. 

4. Leg Pullback

Leg pullbacks are a great stretch if you tend to lean to one side or rest on one leg while your sitting.  

To perform a leg pullback, stand up, lift one leg up to your backside and hold it with your hand. If necessary, use a table or chair to help support your body. Then, repeat the process with the other leg.

This stretch will not only help to stretch out the thighs but the hamstrings and calves as well as opening up your hips. 

Perform These Office Stretches to Avoid Injury

Performing these office stretches on a daily basis is a great way to keep yourself loose and free of chronic injury. Put these stretches to good use and reap the positive effects and increased productivity!

Keeping your office clean has never been more important. Germs can live on the surface of a desk, keyboard, or door handle and spread quickly throughout an office.

You can protect yourself and everyone else in the office by properly sanitizing and cleaning. It doesn’t take much time or effort and can promote better health among employees.

Read below for office cleaning tips you can start using today.

Keep a Clutter-Free Workspace

While piles of papers on your desk won’t make you sick, a cluttered workspace prevents you from being able to clean surfaces appropriately. So before you start your cleaning routine, remove all items from the surface you are cleaning and put them away where they belong.

Even if you are working from home, you should establish a cleaning routine and avoid the build-up of clutter. 

Sanitize Surfaces

When it comes to an office cleaning checklist, sanitizing commonly used surfaces is potentially the most important. Your desk, keyboard, mouse, and office chair need to be cleaned.

If you don’t think that you have the time or office cleaning supplies to get the job done, consider hiring an office cleaning service to help out.

Surfaces in shared spaces like the office kitchen should also be sanitized. The refrigerator, the microwave handle, the cabinet handles, and the coffee maker should all be sanitized. You can use sanitized wipes or a spray to disinfect.

Prioritize Clean Bathrooms

Keeping the bathroom should be a priority regardless, but it’s now more important than ever. All surfaces should be disinfected regularly. Hand soap should be refilled as much as necessary and you should consider posting signs about proper handwashing. 

The sinks and floors should also be cleaned regularly.

Take Out The Trash

Trash removal is not as important when it comes to preventing illness, but it’s a good habit for a clean and sanitary workplace. Kitchen trash should be taken out as often as possible to avoid unpleasant odors. 

Desk trash cans should also be cleared regularly and recycling emptied. 

Dusting Duty

Dust can collect on electronics very easily. To prevent dust build-up, dust your computer, keyboard, surfaces, and yes, even plants, as part of your cleaning routine.

Vents on the ceiling or floors should also be dusted to promote high air quality. You may need to hire a cleaning service for this task.

Office Cleaning is Not Optional

Whether you decide to do the cleaning yourself or hire a professional cleaning service, office cleaning is a must. Use the steps above to make sure you are eliminating dust and germs that could be harmful to your health.

You can also protect yourself and your workplace by washing your hands regularly and covering your mouth and nose with your arm when cough or sneeze. Be courteous of shared spaces and do what you can to prevent mess. 

Keeping your office clean and sanitized not only promotes good health, it helps to increase productivity as well!