Setting Up A New Work From Home Space
We’ve officially been in Portland for almost four weeks now. Since then we’ve managed to buy so much and forget even more. I was making macaroni and cheese during our second week here and spent most of it jotting down all the kitchen items I’d realized I didn’t have to make mac and cheese with.
Given that this move is the first time I’ve ever left my hometown of NYC, for me it’s made up of a lot of firsts. It’s been a unique experience that it’s all also happening under the umbrella of a global pandemic because not only do we want to create a space that screams “comfy home”, but we also want to make it functional as a workspace.
Right before we moved I’d bought a desk that I used as my anchor for an office corner in our tiny NYC apartment. While I loved the desk and it helped give me a place I could go to when I was ready “to go to work”, it’s also true that on days when my anxiety peaked I struggled with only having that one spot.
I love floating when I work. I hadn’t factored this in when I bought the desk the first time around. Our space now is about three times bigger than our New York City apartment, which means I have a lot more space to play with. I’ve been intentional about creating multiple work corners in our home that I can turn to depending on my mood, needs, or energy levels. The couch has turned into my go-to spot whenever I’m taking meetings. I’m furnishing a corner of our living room to double as a reading nook, a workout space, and a comfy corner for writing and brainstorming.
Our kitchen island is the space I turn to when I need to work from a more structured and physically supportive, ergonomic place. There are actually barstools that support my back. I’ve also spent the last two weeks using Logitech’s vertical mouse (MX VERTICAL) and split keyboard (ERGO K860), which they sent my way, and it’s been a game-changer for my posture (especially my neck) and my wrists. I put less weight on having to constantly look down at my laptop to type, which has also made my end of day headaches less frequent.
The keyboard and mouse take some getting used to because of their design, but after an hour or two of working them they feel more natural. I like supporting brands that center wellness in their design and Logitech does that.
When I jumped on needing a desk months ago, I was trying to fit into what I thought a workspace needed to look like versus what I actually needed from a workspace. Our new home has given me an opportunity to focus first on what my actual mental and physical health needs are and how I can center my work habits around those instead. If you’re setting up (or resetting) your space ahead of a few more months of working from home, I suggest asking yourself a few questions:
Where do I feel the most productive?
Do I like to sit in the same place all day or bounce around?
What small adjustments can I make to make my space more ergonomically friendly?
For me all the answers kept pointing to needing more than one place I know I can work from, having a keyboard and a mouse that take the pressure off my neck and hands, and being okay that my space doesn’t necessarily look like what someone else’s space may look like.
*Thank you to Logitech for sponsoring this post!