By Christina Morton DesAuguste
Christina is the founder and CEO of The Organizing Company. She’s been organizing professionally since 2013. She has a background working with kids and teenagers, as well as in fashion retail. Today’s saving grace during self quarantine: cats.
I’ll be honest. I’m not above working from bed. I have a designated office, but sometimes I just want to be cozy while I work. But it’s certainly more difficult to do on an everyday basis. Normally we discourage desks and work items/books/etc in the bedroom because it can create some poor habits, hinder sleep, and prolong feelings of anxiety if there’s not a certain amount of structure built in. One of my organizing friends says the bedroom is for the three R’s: Rest, Relaxation, and Romance. So we want make sure whatever stays in the bedroom is conducive to those three things.
But we’re in unusual times. So, if that’s the only quiet room in your house during this quarantine, let’s talk about some ways to make it work!
1) Create A Routine.
Set work start, end, and lunch times for yourself. Be especially strict about the start and end times. It’s easy to end up working all day and all night if you don’t have a plan or schedule, especially if you’re single. So set your schedule and find ways to keep yourself accountable. Maybe set Zoom meetings 20 minutes after your start so that it forces you to get up on time. Set a reminder for 30 minutes before the end of the workday to start wrapping things up. We recommend creating a routine beyond just work (ie meal times, workout, down time, etc), but start somewhere and you can build on it.
2) Have A Work Caddy Or Basket.
Designate a basket to load all of your work items into at the end of the work day. It’s hard to relax and rest when your laptop and to-do lists are on your nightstand staring at you, or worse, at the foot of the bed. When your work day is over (see #1), move everything work related off the bed and the nightstand. And off any benches/chairs/dressers that may be nearby too. Make sure you don’t have to see your work basket when you’re in bed. It may feel unnecessary, especially if you’re single, but trust me, it will make a difference in how you feel when you climb back into bed at night. Not to mention, the first thing you see when you wake up won’t be a pile of stuff to do. You can wake up gently and then get into work mode when it’s time.
3) Mix It Up.
If you’re bored/uncomfortable in the bed everyday, try to vary your work locations. Maybe you make a schedule that you get the dining room table every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and your hubby gets it Monday and Friday. You can take your work caddy/basket with you whether it’s to the bedroom, living room, or dining room. Sometimes variety is all you need to keep from losing energy.
*The next couple items, you may have seen in a previous blog about working from home in general. They apply even more so when you’re working in bed, or just the bedroom.
4) Self Care.
Working in bed, it’s super easy to neglect some self care basics, even brushing your teeth and washing your face. Be honest. But take a few minutes to do those things (and maybe throw on some deodorant) and you’ll not only feel more awake and ready to work, but you’ll feel good that you took care of yourself.
5) Dress Up.
I love yoga and pajama pants as much as the next gal. But we’ve all heard (and now experienced in this quarantine) what a difference it makes in your psyche when you get dressed and ready to see people. That might mean doing your hair and makeup. It might mean wearing a nice top- and yoga pants (the mullet wardrobe, if you will). Obviously, you aren’t going to be comfortable in some business casual clothing sitting in bed, but even just a little step above pajamas is a mood changer and sends the signal to your body and brain that it’s time to hustle.
6) Remember, it’s only temporary.
You might start to feel like you’re losing it. It might be frustrating to have to pack up all your work stuff at the end of everyday and unpack it in the morning. Your back might say it’s time for something different. When those moments hit, remember that this is only momentary. Having hope for the future is a huge anxiety reliever. So are cats.
A lot of these things apply to working from home in general, no matter where you set up your work station. But I think it’s especially important to implement things like these when you work in your bedroom to make sure it also stays a restful place.
Check back for other work from home and quarantine survival tips in the coming days.
Praying for health and provision for you and your families.
Happy Organizing!
Christina + The Organizing Company Team
April 9, 2020
Share + Follow
