Tag Archives: Home Office

Jan24

What Color Is Your Office?

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What Color Is Your Office?

During the New Year, I rearranged my home office with my back against an accent wall. The purpose was for the accent wall to serve as a background to video calls. I was pretty happy with the new arrangement as it meant I had more space to move around. However, a colleague pointed out that the accent wall was a bit problematic. For one, it was bright red. The kind of red you’d find at fast food joints. The color was distracting and it washed me out. Another problem was the color psychology behind the color red. While it does represent power, excitement, and energy, it also represents danger and anger. Too much stimulation makes me feel tired and irritable. Not good for video calls at all.

Our work environments have an effect on our performance. We spend so much time at work, about one-third of our lives. It would make sense to make it comfortable and optimized for productivity so that we feel energized and inspired.

Looking At Color Psychology

There is a general lack of research in the area of color psychology. However, we cannot deny the impact it has on our moods, feelings, and behaviors. Its symbolic impact is recognized universally. This is why areas such as marketing, art, and design rely so much on color psychology. 

Ever wonder why red is such a popular color for fast food joints and restaurants? Take McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, In-N-Out Burger, and Wendy’s for example. They all have predominantly red logos. This is because red is known to increase appetite and metabolism, making you feel hungry.

On the other side of the spectrum, cool colors such as blue, green, and purple invoke feelings of calmness and authority. This is why companies such as LinkedIn, PayPal, Twitter, and Walmart have predominantly blue logos.

Pro Tips:

  • When redecorating your house or your home office, keep in mind the colors of your surroundings and accent pieces. Muted colors are always a safe bet as a background color. Off-white, cream, or a light shade of grey looks better in the background when you are on a video call versus opting for more bold and dramatic colored backgrounds. 
  • You can also go for accent pieces instead of covering your office in one color scheme. If you want a pop of color, try hanging a painting or a poster against a solid-colored wall. 
  • Plants also add a pop of color to your office. They not only bring a bit of nature in, but also add style and beauty to your office. Not to mention their added health benefits as they purify the air inside your office and help you feel less stressed.

Make your workstation a place where you genuinely love spending time. Work is challenging enough, you shouldn’t be contending with an uncomfortable and distracting home office as well.

What does your home office look like? Describe it to us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Nov22

Micromanagement and Working From Home

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Micromanagement and Working From Home

Remote working or working from home was supposed to be a short-term solution to the threat of COVID-19. It allows employees to work remotely in order to reduce travel and congregation thus, reducing the spread of the virus and the risk of contracting the disease. Back in March, when the pandemic sent us all into lockdown and the work from home experiment started, businesses and organizations had no idea if the move would be successful. Fast-forward to today, remote work has turned into a long-term solution and a possible work option.

Still a lot of employers struggle to adapt to the fact that they are no longer able to walk over to an employee to check in and see how tasks are progressing. Here are some tips to help better manage remote workers:

  1. Offer trust and flexibility – in this context, trust is about making sure that you give your direct reports the resources (such as tools, information, access, and guidance) that they need to get their work done – and then, be able to get out of their way. The best way to offer them trust is to allow them the flexibility to choose when and how they want to get the job done.
  2. Give them autonomy – allow your direct reports to be able to direct their own lives. Giving direct reports autonomy over their projects not only encourages them to see the project through to completion, but also encourages them to give their best because they have ownership and accountability. You hired them, after all. So, assume that they are competent to deliver while encouraging excellence. Trust that they will be able to get the job done.
  3. Be an example – don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk. If your company is big on work-life balance as stated in your mission-vision, you have to lead by example. Show your employees that you value and even encourage time off. And don’t just preach about it, you have to actually take time off yourself. Be public when you do it as well so that employees can see that you have a work-life balance, and it’s not just platitudes.
  4. Communicate well and often – too many one-on-ones can feel like micromanagement, but too little can also be a problem, too. Without proper communication, remote workers are left to assume that they are on the right track and won’t be able to course-correct until it’s too late. So provide regular feedback. Schedule regular check-in calls and make it a video call – not a phone call. So many things will be missed if you are unable to see facial expressions and body language. Use your regular catch-ups to check in on how they’re doing and also chat about non-work related things that aren’t too personal. It’s a way to build rapport and also get feedback on what’s going well or if they have pressing concerns.

Do you have tips to better manage remote workers? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Apr12

How To Be Productive No Matter What Shift Schedule You Are On

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How To Be Productive No Matter What Shift Schedule You Are On

I don’t know about you, but since the global lockdowns due to the pandemic, my circadian rhythm has been out of whack. One major reason is that more people are working from home and have the ability to work across different time zones. Which keeps them up very late or very early. 

Switching schedules can wreak havoc on your schedule and decrease productivity. It is advisable to stick to a consistent work schedule because our brains work best when it follows a routine. Why? Routine trumps willpower because it doesn’t require such a huge effort from you. Once you have an established routine, everything else follows a schedule – that’s why we say “it’s like clockwork.” It doesn’t take much mental energy to follow a routine, it flows easily whereas willpower is an extremely finite resource. Routine signals to your brain what it should expect thus making it easier for you to be productive and get work done.

Now that we’ve established why it’s important to have a routine in order to be productive, here are some tips to make that work for you no matter what shift schedule you’re on. 

Extend your routine to the non-work parts of your day

Having a “morning routine” signals the start of your day – whatever time that is. Having an “evening routine” signals the end of the day – whatever time that is. So if your “morning routine” includes, a quick workout or yoga flow, taking a shower, getting dressed, and making coffee, then do that to signal the start of your day – even if your shift starts at 6pm. 

Incorporate “structure” into your workday

This could mean working at the same place (a home office helps), starting and stopping work at the same time each day, having the same tools/apps ready when you log-in for work. Don’t forget to also incorporate reeks into your workflow. The Pomodoro Technique, a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo, can help you break up your day into productive intervals. 

Customize your routine to fit YOUR lifestyle

If you’re naturally more productive after having coffee, then schedule all your brain work after you’ve had time to process your first cup. If you’re prone to experiencing mental blocks in the middle of your shift, take a break, get away from your desk for a while and take a walk to clear your mind. If you’re working from home and can afford a little flexibility in your schedule, you can maybe get some errands in so that it doesn’t weigh on you the whole day.

If you extend your routine, incorporate structure into your workday, and customize your routine, you can be productive no matter what shift schedule you’re working. Do you have any tips to manage productivity even with an unpredictable work schedule or shifting schedule? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Apr6

Tools You Will Need If You Want To Successfully Work From Home

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Tools You Will Need If You Want To Successfully Work From Home

Are you part of the 41.8% of the American workforce who continue to work remotely even after the government has eased up on the lockdown restrictions? Your company has probably seen the overwhelming statistics that support the benefits of working from home. Gartner projects that organizations that support a “choose-your-own-work-style” culture will boost employee retention rates by more than 10%. While Flexjobs reports that 97% of the workforce said a job with flexibility would have a huge improvement or positive impact on their overall quality of life. Buffer says that 40% of remote workers were in agreement that a flexible work schedule is the biggest benefit to working remotely. Then there’s the PGI report that states that 82% of their telecommuters reported lower stress levels. Improved quality of life – check. Less stress from the commute – check. Flexible work hours – check. Lower stress levels – check. So many benefits, that’s probably why employers have given their employees the option to keep working from home.

By now, you should already have the essential tools you need to be able to work from home. Unlike at the beginning of the pandemic when we had to go through hoops to secure company-issued laptops or have our personal laptops installed with tighter security checking tools. Here are 4 must-haves for successfully working from home. 

Desktop or Laptop

The most basic need for working from home is a computing machine so this is a must have. Get a reliable one if you don’t yet have one by now. A desktop is better if you’re in it for the long haul.

A task management system

You can use the old whiteboard method or better yet, use a digital system. Your company probably uses one already (Wrike, Trello, Asana, etc.) Just make sure you have a way to track your tasks. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed and just trying to put out  fires

A place to work

While the kitchen table is a perfectly good spot to work, you’re going to have to carve out space for a permanent home office. It doesn’t have to be fancy but should be enough space to hold a work desk and a comfy chair. If you live with other people, having a work area will signal that when you are in this zone, you are not to be disturbed (if only it were that easy with kids!)

A good pair of headphones

If you can afford it, get the noise-canceling ones. And get the “plug-and-play” ones, so you don’t have to tinker with ports and settings, and other whatnots. Most of your work from home life will be video conferences and collaboration calls, so a nice pair of professional headsets will reduce those “hello, can you hear me?” moments.

What are your work from home essentials? We’d love to know what your favorite tools are. Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Feb8

4 Tips on How To Improve The Flow Of Your Home Office

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4 Tips on How To Improve The Flow Of Your Home Office

Many people have been working from home since last year due to the government imposed lockdowns. In fact, 41.8% of the American workforce continues to work remotely. A lot of those don’t have formal workspaces set up at home and have to quickly adjust their homes to accommodate the new work arrangement.

Are you one of those people whose workspace consists of a laptop in one corner of the dining table? Or are you a work from home veteran trying to spruce up their home office? Everyone needs a comfortable and functional workspace. Working from home might be our reality until the global pandemic crisis gets solved. This is why you have to make an effort to make sure that your workspace can inspire you to do your job well. After all, your environment influences how you do your work.

Let’s face it, the corner of the dining table doesn’t leave any room for personalization. The reality of this arrangement is that you’re likely to move your work to another spot while the dining table is being used for…dining. Then you have to haul your laptop, notes, and pens back after you clean up. The first thing to do to improve the flow of your home office is to actually have a home office. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Just carve out a quiet space away from distractions and set your laptop up on a table and get a comfortable chair. If you already have that, here’ are the rest of the tips:

  1. Personalize it!
    A sense of personalization actually helps improve your productivity. Personalization increases happiness and job satisfaction, therefore increasing productivity. But don’t go putting your children’s art on the wall just yet. Choose objects that you love looking at but would add beauty and function – a nice pen holder perhaps, a beautiful lamp, a vase full of flowers, colorful office supplies, you get the idea.
  2. Keep work and play separate.
    This is the number one challenge of working from home – how to successfully keep work and personal life separate. This is why you should set your workspace up in a part of your home with the least distractions. Make it clear to everyone you share your home with that you are not to be disturbed when you are in that space. If space is tight, get creative. I have seen some Pinterest pins of closets that have been converted into tiny home offices. Check those out for inspiration.
  3. Design with productivity in mind.
    Take advantage of lighting and color to productivity. If you’re lucky enough to set up near a window, take advantage of natural light. When you personalize your space, consider color. Here’s an interesting read about how color can improve your productivity.
  4. Declutter.
    Clutter not only affects your surroundings, but it also affects your mindset. Your focus is always on the constant attack if your environment is messy. So get rid of clutter.

Do you have any tips on how to improve your home office? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp