Five Tips for Living and Working in a Small Space
After over a year of leaving our Normal lives behind in favor of a safer pandemic quarantine, we’ve mostly settled into routines and habits that we formed when we first brought our work into our homes (for better or for worse). If your space felt small before, the addition of a home office (and gym, and coffee shop, and classroom) made things feel downright tiny.
Research shows that an overwhelming percentage of office workers hope to retain some WFH privileges (source), which means that some form of the home office is likely here to stay. With spring in full bloom, perhaps it’s time to refresh your space and your mind for the New Normal, and make things really work for you. Here are our five favorite tips for living and working in a small space:
Single Tasking: The temptation to multitask is strong while working from home, but research is showing that you’re actually less productive when you bounce from task to task (source). Commit to finishing a task (or set of related tasks) before moving onto the next one, and remember to take a breather in between so you can fully focus on what you’re doing. You’ll be able to gather the tools you need and otherwise keep your space tidy.
Set Rituals: The disappearance of our daily commutes has also taken away a moment where we mentally unplugged from work and prepared for our evenings at home. Without that precious transition, our work bled into our home lives and it ultimately felt less like working from home and more like living at work. Try bringing that unplugged moment back into your routine and take a walk after you log off for the day, perhaps try a walking meditation, listening to a podcast, or talking on the phone with a friend. Plan your ritual and fully commit to making it a habit that sticks.
A Place for Everything, and Everything in its Place: Have a dedicated spot for every item in your home, and if you can’t seem to find a space for it, perhaps it’s time to consider saying goodbye and passing it along. If you’re like us, the pandemic forced your mind into a scarcity mindset and you hoarded a lot of items in response (looking at you, toilet paper). That was normal. Consider what it is you really need going forward, and then keep it in its permanent home so you’ll never have to go hunting for it.
Go Vertical: Never underestimate the power of putting your walls to work. Between open shelving, wall mounted furniture, or just the humble pegboard, your wall space is ripe for creating spaces that suit your needs. Be sure to read all of your products’ hanging instructions and use a stud finder to keep things sturdy and safe.
Multifunctional Everything: Take stock of the items in your space and look for ways to reduce duplicate functions. Perhaps your rice cooker doubles as a steamer, or your coffee table contains storage. Likewise, look for ways to get more function from the same spaces. Armed with your new skills of single tasking and commute rituals, consider how you can pack up one function and unpack another. Perhaps you can swap your office space for a fitness space at the end of the day, or clear out your dining space for a space to relax. You've earned it.