Last spring, schools and businesses across the country closed unexpectedly, forcing students, teachers, and employees to learn and work from home. It was a messy transition for many, with kids and adults alike resigned to temporary setups on the couch, at the kitchen table, or even in bed.
As fall approaches, many school districts and businesses are continuing the trend of learning and working remotely. You may have grown accustomed to the change by now, but are you still working in a makeshift space? One of the best things you can do this fall is set up a dedicated place where you and your children can focus amid all the distractions at home. Here are some tips to help your efforts succeed.
Depending on the work you do, you may be comfortable moving around the house with a laptop. However, office workers who are accustomed to sitting at a single workstation are likely to prefer a more stable setup.
If you have a seldom-used room in your home, consider converting that into a dedicated home office or school space. If you don’t have that much square footage to spare, you may have to compromise. This could involve cordoning off half of the dining room to be your workspace or setting up a learning corner in your kids’ bedrooms.
A desk is an absolute must for your child’s remote learning setup, even if you place it in a multipurpose location like the living or dining room. You can find kid tables and chairs that fit a young person’s body more effectively than adult-size furniture. The goal is to make your child’s at-home classroom as comfortable as possible.
Think about ergonomics for yourself as well. An adjustable office chair can ward off discomfort, and a sit-stand desk can help you avoid low-back pain. Then, no matter how comfortable your furniture is, don’t forget to get up and walk around every hour or so to keep the blood flowing.
With more people learning and working from home this fall, your internet will be pushed to the limit. You may find that you don’t have enough bandwidth to go around, or the Wi-Fi signal may not reach some rooms. Work out the kinks ahead of time so you’re not left scrambling during your next video call.
To prevent your office or school space from feeling like a cave, set up your desk in a room with natural light, if possible. Have options for adjusting the lighting as needed throughout the day, including blinds and curtains to cut out glare and a dimmable lamp for just the right amount of light after the sun sets.
Chances are your child has specific school hours, even when learning from home. You need to set your work hours as well, including scheduled breaks. Otherwise, working from home could burn you out. Take 15-minute breaks at their usual times and spend them going on walks, emptying the dishwasher, or folding a batch of laundry. You’ll take your mind off your current to-do list and return to your computer feeling refreshed and ready to focus once more.
If you’re looking at a long-term work-and-learn-from-home situation, you may want to make more permanent changes than simply setting up a desk in the corner of the room. At The Kitchen Master, our design team can help you convert a guest room, attic, garage, or even large walk-in closet into a home office or school space you can be proud of. With over 40 years of experience and thousands of satisfied customers, we’re confident we can make your project a success.
To begin your at-home office or school space renovation in the Naperville area, please contact us at (630) 369-0500.