Creating a Comfortable Desk Space

Now that a lot of us are stuck working from home (and some without home offices!), I thought it would be fun to do a post on creating a workable desk area. 

When we first moved, the hubs and I decided to merge our home office spaces into one room. Unfortunately, with me teaching classes and conferencing with kids most of my day, it doesn’t work for me to be in the office with him all day long, so I’ve had to resort to the dining room table for most of my sessions. Which is fine, but we’ll get to that.

Here are some tips (and some of my favorite products) to make sure your work-from-home office space is comfortable, workable, and enjoyable!

Make Your View a Pleasant One

Whether it’s staring out of a window or looking at some pretty art (there are some super cute prints online!) and houseplants. You know what makes you happy, so add it into your space!

Light, Light, Light

Make sure your space is well-lit. Nothing like dim lights to make you go crazy! I even like to add a candle or even a diffuser - less for light, and more for a relaxed atmosphere. 

Blue Light Glasses

Speaking of light, since you’re likely spending a lot more time on your computer now, it is totally worth it to get blue light glasses! I noticed a great difference and have experienced less headaches since using them! (They are super affordable on Amazon too!)

Leave Space for a Hot Beverage

I don’t know about you, but I need my tea lattes to keep me company pretty much all day long. They are a hug in a mug, truly. I was keeping them in a travel cup to stay warm, but my husband was generous enough to get me the amazing ember mug for my birthday that keeps my drink hot all day long! (Get yours on Amazon here)

Mind Your Temperature

I’m usually chilly, so on top of having a warm drink next to me, I keep a sweater and a small throw by my desk area. Let me rephrase: my favorite sweater and my favorite small throw - it’s the little things that keep me happy. :) 

It’s Okay to Relocate

Even with a fun desk space, I do like heading to a Starbucks every once in a while for a change in scenery. Since that isn’t really an option right now, I’ll settle for my deck, my cozy yellow chair in the living room, or even the kitchen or dining room table instead. I’ve been making pretty mean lattes lately that cost less anyway. Feel free to relocate to wherever you wish to be productive for the day. 

Add Some Personal Touches

Add some personal touches to your work space. Maybe it’s a picture of your family, a painting you’re particularly proud of, or even a card from a friend. I keep a tiny (I really do mean tiny!) little hippo figurine that my mom gave me years ago. It’s always on my desk and makes me smile.

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How do you make your desk space comfortable?

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Dealing with COVID Crisis (Ask Amanda)

Question: How are you dealing with the COVID crisis and staying productive?

This is a great question. Sometimes I kind of wonder how I am dealing, myself.

The corona crisis, while I did sort of see it coming gradually, still took me by surprise. Overnight, I found myself first not going into work,then  staying home from everything as businesses started closing and people started wearing masks and gloves to the empty-shelved grocery stores.

Those first few weeks were bizzarre. Everything happened so fast, and decisions had to be made quickly. Events were cancelled. Loss was felt. The fear was high and tension could be cut with a knife.

So back to your question: how am I dealing with this crisis and staying productive?

To be honest, I don’t have as much free time as I was hoping I would have had. Teaching online is no joke, y’all. I feel like I’m staring at a computer screen 8+ hours a day - and honestly, I probably am. That being said, I’m not that mad about having to work from home. 

Here are a few ways I’ve been staying sane over the last two months.

Having a Schedule and a Plan

Having a schedule helps me to stay on track and stay motivated. No regularly staying up late or sleeping in for this gal. 

This may be strange, but I really do need to keep up with my regular meal and habit planning as well. If I don’t, I tend to make poor choices - especially when it comes to food. Having a game plan helps cut down on having to grocery shop and gives peace of mind that I need when entering the kitchen.

Boundaries

As I mentioned earlier, I work a lot more than I used to. Because of this, and because my office is now stationed in my living room most days (I let my husband use our shared office), I need to set hard boundaries. I start work at 9am and finish at 5pm. Not before, and not after. That may seem harsh, considering I’m a teacher, but it’s important for my mental health that work stops at some point, and I can think of something else. 

I feel I can also mention here that one thing I did that I am so happy for was set up a Google Voice number instead of giving out my cell phone. Students would text at all hours if I had done that. I also keep emails off my phone. I need the dissociation of work when I use my personal devices otherwise I get sucked in (I don’t keep the Google app on my phone either - strictly web browser and email).

Frequent Breaks

I have definitely been guilty of working straight for hours on end while at home, and by the end of those spurts, not only can I not walk or sit up straight, my creativity and overall sane-ness tends to wane. In order for me to be as productive as possible, I take frequent breaks to move my body or drink water (or refill my tea mug). I talk a little bit more about getting movement during self-isolation in a post here.

Exercise and Being Outdoors

I’ve always loved to exercise, and I really love that I have time to do even more of it now! Not only does fresh air and vigorous movement help my blood flow and productivity, it also adds to my routine. It’s also nice to be able to do it in the morning stress-free since my starting times are a bit more flexible.

Being outside is another fantastic brain break. Sometimes getting outdoors means lugging my reading out to the balcony. Other times, it means getting into the dirt and gardening. Usually, however, it means going on a hike or for a run. Going outside gives me something to look forward to and something to enjoy. I’m so thankful that the weather has been pleasant the past two months!

House Projects

Well, for us, right now this looks like getting some painting done and deep cleaning for summer. Let’s see what else we’ll be able to get done - I’ve been meaning to share some more of our house projects on the blog!

Hobbies

Well, when I can. Work has been crazy busy, but I do make some time for some writing and a lot more reading. I’ve also been working on some hand lettering. I thought about picking up some crocheting projects I set aside once Winter ended, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to do that with the weather being so nice out!

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One thing that I haven’t been doing is taking advantage of online learning that is outside of my profession (inside is plenty enough right now!). Honestly, I can’t bring myself to watch another zoom interview or teaching session because it just feels like work.

What have you been doing during this time of self-isolation?

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