Benefits of Changing Your Work Environment

Where You Work Impacts How You Work

    Covid-19 changed the world in many ways, including how we work and pursue education. Virtual and online work went from a flexible option to a necessity for all. As vaccines and boosters have become more accessible, many of us have returned to interacting outside our homes. 

    As of now, I am working in a hybrid setting depending on where I'm working. For Intermode, I am in-person throughout my 10 hours. As a field manager, I am working in a hybrid style with the vast majority of my work completed remotely. 

    I have been working in a hybrid style as early as the fall 2020 semester due to having lab hours. Here are some things I've learned over the last two years about working and studying from home.

1. Don’t work or study where you rest: This is a tip I received from my therapist. Our minds are powerful and influential, and we often don't even realize what's happening at a subconscious level. Our bed, and sometimes even the bedroom itself, is usually associated with sleep and rest. Thus, it can be difficult to be productive and maintain information when your eyelids are heavy and your mind is foggy. It may make you feel tired, exhausted, unmotivated, and uninspired.
1. When I was living at home with my parents, I would most often study in my room so I could focus in a quiet area, or at least with my preferred soundtrack in the background. I had a desk and chair growing up but had outgrown them as I aged, so I worked on my bed. I cannot tell you how many times I fell asleep while surrounded by my academic materials in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, this was the only place I could focus, even if it wasn't to the best of my abilities. I did end up buying a new desk at some point once I became desperate enough to want better for myself, and it did help. Habits are hard to form and hard to break so I did work on my bed regardless from time to time. As long as you mix it up, you should see improvements.
2. Mix up where you work in your home: Sometimes we are confined to specific spaces whether that be our home, our room, or somewhere else. The best way to overcome this, when the option is available, is to change up our environment. If you have the opportunity to work outside of your room, I highly recommend it. This can be a spare bedroom, a living room, or a kitchen table or island. I understand all too well what it's like to have someone else in the house 24/7 so these may not be good options for you. If your bedroom is the only viable option, then changing up your room might be the way to go. Some ways to switch things up in your room include moving your furniture around, clearing out space near a window, and making a spot to work in your closet. I know that last one gives off Harry Potter vibes but I promise it works. Anything that changes your normal routine can open you up to new perspectives and details. 
1. I no longer live with my parents. Instead, I live with my fiance and one of our friends to keep rent affordable. While this is a good friend of ours, I usually want to avoid interaction when it's time to focus. Depending on their work schedule, I feel confined to my and my fiance's room. Right now, they're working nights and sleeping during the day. I take this opportunity to go to the living room and will sit in a couple different areas. No matter where I'm sitting, whether it's on the couch, the kitchen table, or on the floor, I always open the blinds to let in the sunshine. Bonus tip: Humans are just houseplants with more complicated emotions. The image below from Poorly Drawn Lines shows an excellent representation of why this statement has been made. The lack of sunshine contributes to the seasonal depression many Michiganders experience during the cold months. Unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from being in the sun, then I also recommend having natural light in your workspace.
   
   
   
3. Try studying and working outside of your home: Again, changing your environment from time to time can be beneficial to your mindset. Outside doesn't have to mean grass and blue skies; although, that's a wonderful way to get work done, too. Working outside of your home can also look like a library, coffee shop, or a friend's or family member's residence. The tricky part about working with someone else is whether or not they will pose as a distraction. Having co-workers in the workplace is completely normal. At least this way you get to choose someone that will encourage your productivity and positive surroundings. Cafes are great locations because they typically have wifi and you don't have to go to multiple places for a snack and caffeinated beverage. Libraries often have private rooms that can be reserved at no cost. 

    How to encourage yourself to get out of the house individually and with someone else.

    This article by Indeed gives 21 tips for working from home, some of which we've already discussed, along with a variety of remote positions to consider. 

-The Adaptive Creative