Working from home can get a bad wrap sometimes but it’s pretty sweet. I reckon that if you’re not loving working from home, you’re doing it wrong. I recently took a leaf out of Google’s book and reformed my work-from-home life. Wanna know how?
Working from home can get a bad wrap sometimes, and don't get me wrong, there are some really draining elements to it but in all; it's pretty sweet. I reckon that if you're not loving working from home, you're doing it wrong.
God knows I was doing it wrong. Crappy surroundings, slummy clothing little people yelling at me, Vegemite sandwiches for lunch. Sigh. Not very exciting.
So I took a leaf out of Google's book, because everyone knows that Google is basically to coolest place on earth to work from. Right?
Here's how I reformed my work-from-home life.
Creating an office space that you actually want to work in is the first thing you need to do. Something that yells, I'm an adult, hear me roar!
You don't need lots of space, it doesn't even need to be a desk. Lena Dunham does most of her work from a bed FYI – but it does need to be tidy-ish and at least a little pretty.
One of the things I have been doing is tidying the night before so in the morning (after the mayhem that is double drop-off) I can come home and feel calm.
My current faves: A scented candle, hand cream, my fiddle leaf fig and lately; a salt lamp. They are supposed to be really good for your health. Also, how insane is the weave from Pinch Me Beautiful? I'm just minding it unfortunately.
If you're a work from home mum I would suggest reading A Room Of Ones Own, it may open your eyes to the importance of a space that values your work.
So many of the great-to-work-for companies provide their staff with healthy food for free. And why not? It raises productivity and cuts down on sick leave. So I decided to do the same. Even though I actually have to pay for it – I like to pretend it's free.
My go-to right now is kaleslaw (who even am I) with tuna and a Kombucha. Très mature, right? I even pack it in a Bento box while I'm making the kid's lunch the night before so can avoid the rabbit hole that is my kitchen when I'm working.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU WORK FROM HOME YOU HAVE TO IGNORE HOUSEWORK – Do you think the Google employees are loading the dishwasher while on a conference call? No. They are in a freaking ball pit!
A company masseur? Why the hell not. This little puppy (the foot spa) is really brightening up my day – I don't even mind when the dog drinks out of it.
But seriously, my conditions were so crap when I was working for myself – but when I started my job I was told I had to take a half-hour break. It was so weird at first but really made me reassess the type of boss I had been to myself. And I was NOT nice.
A little bit of pampering is good, happiness ups productivity big time. I just got this fancy foot spa and it is so so cool! There is no reason I can't read important documents or write some emails with my feet in a spa. It might even be better than a ball pit.
Not having to get out of your PJ's is both one of the best and one of the worst parts about working from home. There are so many different opinions on this topic. Some people get fully dressed, make-up and all, some slum up hard.
For me I apply the does-it-feel-like-pj's-but-look-like-clothes-test. Harem pants, yes. Funky tee, yes. Make-up, noooooo. Hair brush, sometimes…
This singlet by Eskimo Nell is one of my current faves, it reminds me to kick ass.
Google may have lots of funky employees but my co workers are heaps cuter!
I used to work from home with my kids all the time, now my big one is in school and my little one goes to preschool some days. But when I was working from home with them full-time, I did everything I could to alleviate any mum-guilt. Cuz I DO NOT DO mum guilt.
My basic recipe was to pack a lunch box for both of them (so they could help themselves whenever they wanted) and make sure their room was tidy. Then I would just set up some sort of game for them, like a shop or cafe in their room. I have always found that when their room is trashed they can't get into a good play groove. And also, sounds really weird but on work-from-home-days I avoid putting on the TV.
So there you go. Thoughts?
