With so many people having transitioned to working from home over the last year - and businesses still being able to operate and survive with more and more employees being virtual, there is an expected shift in offices moving to a blended office environment moving forward.
What is a blended office environment?
In short, it means that some people will work in the office some of the time, and some people will work remotely all the time.
With employees only attending the office a few days a week it eradicates the need for designated workspaces or offices and allows for staff to pick an open seat for the day. It also means that on-going sanitization protocols need to be established and strictly followed by everyone involved.
With such a large shift from having a designated desk at work with your family photos and hidden snacks, to adjusting to a more mobile working environment - some days at home, some days at the office, and some days at “off-site” locations - its time to rethink your workspace - and set you up for continued success no matter where you sit and work for the day.
Working from home:
Your home desk will most likely remain your main working station for the foreseeable future. Like most people, a few weeks into working from home, I upgraded my desk and chair as well as set up a second monitor to make working on several projects at once that much easier. But there are items that looking back I wish I had purchased earlier but honestly, I was holding out hope that working from home with two remote-learning children would not last as long as it has.
Here are the items to keep at your home desk:
- Custom Zoom backdrop. Hide all of the shenanigans happening in the background with a fun but not overly distracting background. Steps to set this up.
- Ring Light. These aren’t just for Instagram influencers.
- Noise-canceling headphones. I love my Bose Quiet Comfort Wireless headphones, they are comfortable, block out the noisy dogs and kids, and easily detach myself and walk to a quieter room for those last-minute calls.
- Desk plants. Cacti, succulents, or pothos plants are all great desk plants since they require minimal space and care yet provide a pop of color and fresh air to your space.
- Ergonomic office furniture. Instead of sitting on your couch hunched over your computer destroying your back in the process. Do yourself a favor and invest in a decent ergonomic desk chair, a stability ball chair, or an adjustable desk. For those with smaller budgets, a computer riser along with a back support cushion can provide similar upgrades that will improve the overall quality of your position throughout the day and lend you to standing when your back needs a break.
Working at the office:
As we all slowly start to attend days in the office whether that’s in the office or at off-site locations there are a few things that you will want to consider adding to your arsenal in order to make your new mobile-office environment easier to manage and remain just as productive.
Here are the items that will make transitioning from a home desk to a work desk easier:
- Wireless phone charger. Make sure you at least always have power for your phone so you can communicate with staff between desks.
- Sanitizing wipes. So you can wipe down your desk for the day, or the table at a local coffee shop which will act as your office for the day.
- Secure laptop case. There are so many great cases available from various brands and retailers. Amazon is always my go-to spot when I’m looking for a new case.
- The perfect carryall bag. For me, that is the Longchamp Le Pliage Original. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. It has a zipper closure at the top and is washable.
- Reusable water bottle - The Blender Bottle is my absolute favorite since it’s secure and I can toss it into any bag without worrying about it spilling. Plus it comes in a variety of fun colors.
- Healthy snacks. Salt and vinegar almonds or peanuts are usually what I keep on hand. They fill you up, a good source of protein, and won’t go stale on you too fast.
- Notebook & pen. Not everyone loves a good old-fashioned notebook, but I do for my everyday to-do lists. Especially for those times when my laptop dies and I still need to take some notes. I love all of the stationary and pens from MochiThings. The mini memo pads are simply the cutest.
What items do you always keep at your desk or in your carry-all bag to make a mobile-office environment work best for you? Let us know below in the comments or on our social channels.
