The back-to-school season is almost upon us. It only feels like yesterday when our children were freed from the classroom for their summer holidays, and now, already, they are preparing to return once again. College students will find themselves in the same situation, only with the burden of trying to find somewhere to live that won’t cost an arm and a leg. As a parent, you may be dealing with all of this, as well as the added pressure of your own arrival back to the office.
It’s not easy, and it will be especially difficult for those who remained at home and worked/studied remotely for a portion/majority of the year. It can be a daunting prospect wondering whether a change in environment will affect your ability to carry out everyday tasks, but there is one way to combat all this anxiety - by doing a little research and putting together a plan in advance of your return.
To make things easier for you, we (EZ Living Furniture) have put together some simple tips in order to make the transition back to working and student life much easier.
Routine
Setting a routine for yourself each day is one handy way to relieve yourself of any back-to-school nervousness. It will also help those who are going back to the office. Think about it, when a general plan is in place, you tend to forget about any prior apprehensions. You will be solely focused on that next task and checking the time to make sure that you are bang on schedule etc.
Forming a routine early on, even before going back will help to avoid a shock to the system.
Don’t forget to keep your coffee close by - if, like many, this is also a routine of yours!
Consistency
Consistency is key. Although there may be a change in scenery, one thing that hasn’t changed is the range of tasks that you will need to complete. Maybe you have become accustomed to working from your dining room table, sofa or indeed, bed? Or perhaps you feel that your at-home office space with a desk, office chair and filing cabinet was just starting to work for you. Moving from this environment can disrupt your working/studying life and it’s important to recognise that it will take some time to get back into the swing of things. Just because you have returned to the office, school, or college, it doesn’t mean that your at-home office space should be forgotten about. You will still need this home office space to complete homework, assignments, and work tasks that you couldn’t finish while at work.
Change
Everybody is different. Some may thrive on consistency while others may need a fresh start to keep them going and upbeat for the remainder of the year. Consistency is good, but complacency is not. Complacency can make some of us feel unmotivated and unwilling to start any projects at home, school, or work.
A simple way to avoid these feelings is by updating or upgrading your at-home, at-work, or at-school areas. A simple change in decor can awaken the senses and get you excited about working from somewhere new (or at least it will feel like somewhere new). Try incorporating some brand-new items into your work areas such as an office chair, desk, or even some smaller items like candles or vases. A new laptop/school bag or even stickers for a locker can completely transform how you feel about your return.
Atmosphere
The place where you will be working, studying, or doing homework is very important. You will want to make sure that you create the best possible atmosphere in that area to allow for maximum productivity. As mentioned, purchasing some new and exciting items can make a space feel new again, but welcoming too many of these pieces (or unnecessary furnishings) can overload a room and ruin its functionality. Therefore, it is crucial that you understand what should and shouldn’t be welcomed into your space.
Office Desk & Chair
An important aspect of any room is its furniture. Why? Because of its function of course. Have you ever tried relaxing and watching TV without the use of a sofa? How about dining in the living room without a dining room table? It’s certainly not ideal. Needless to say, an office will require a good-quality desk for working at and an adjustable chair for sitting on.
The adjustable and modern Ottowa Office Chair (pictured above) features a wheel and swivel base which will allow you to access various parts of your desk and office space in an instant.
The best and easiest way to figure out if a particular desk and office chair will fit into your workspace is by measuring it. Afterwards, use cardboard or paper to map out this measurement on the floor.
EZ TIP: Remember to take into consideration any doors, windows, and filing cabinets that could come into contact with any desk or office chair when opened.
There are many different kinds of desks available, and each one can offer a whole host of benefits. Some may be more cost-effective, while others are more durable and built-to-last. Additional internal storage within a desk can also be particularly useful and should also be carefully considered, while a large surface area on the top of a desk can be used for permanently storing a computer, laptop, or paper tray.
Check out some of these functional and elegant desks that can help you to create the ultimate office space.
The Tia Desk (above) is one of many cost-effective work surfaces available at EZ Living Furniture.
The Henley Writing Bureau (above) is the perfect choice for smaller spaces. It features a timeless design and is another elegant example of a cost-effective work surface.
Fashioned from gorgeous, reclaimed pine, the Henly 5 drawer desk (above) is stylish, durable, and sits at a mid-way price point.
The Mila Desk (above) features two handy drawers for tidying any stationary after use. This is a modern desk of high quality that is sure to last a lifetime.
Lighting
The colour and temperature of the lighting in your work area will also play a huge role in your productivity. Unsuitable lighting with warm, orange or yellow tones can relax you and help you to unwind. This is great for other areas in the home such as a sitting room or bedroom, but not so good for an office area. Try to incorporate bright, white, or blue hanging lights into your workspace which is better for waking up and concentrating. Or why not include a combination of both kinds of lighting in the form of a ceiling light, floor lamp or table lamp, for those of you who have their desks placed in your bedrooms.
Shelving
Make the most of the existing space in the room by implementing some functional yet stylish shelving or bookcases. Shelves can hold and organise your business files/textbooks, ensuring that they can be grabbed and easily accessed at a moment’s notice. Your items can then be tidily returned there when not in use. An orderly and clutter-free environment is crucial for creativity and peace of mind.
Always remember this: "A place for everything, everything in its place".
Plants
Bringing some foliage into an office or workstation should never be ignored or underestimated. Plant pots or flowers will inject a pop of colour into a life-less room and can have some major positive benefits to a person’s health and wellbeing. Research has shown that green plants can help to relieve stress, improve memory retention, reduce noise levels, and clean the air? The bigger question is, what can’t they do? So, what are you waiting for? Pop out and buy yourself a few plants to keep on your desk, side table, shelves, or chest of drawers.
Clocks
A clock is a constant reminder of the time of the day. It will help to keep you on time for meetings, lunch, and even quitting time/or the time you had set yourself to finish studying. In addition to this, a clock is one of those furnishings that will add a finishing touch to your décor. With a stylish time-keeping device, you can easily add colour and function to a workspace’s walls.
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t love your office just as much as any other part of your home. If you have all the accessories above in your workspace, and it’s still not working for you, play around with furniture arrangements and colours. Have fun and make the space work for you. Just remember to leave the room when you’ve finished your work for the day. Don’t let it interfere with your routine of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Struggling to fit everything into your workspace? Read: Design Tips For Small Spaces.
We hope you enjoyed this content and found it useful and informative. We aim to share our expertise and knowledge with our customers and to do this we have a team of content creators working tirelessly behind the scenes. We do not use AI to create our content. Click this link to find out more about our team and content guidelines.
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