BLENDING A HOME OFFICE INTO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE | Part 1

Working from home is fairly common these days; no one thinks twice when someone says they work from home. A few years ago, a home office would have been primarily used for personal finances and records. However in today’s world, approximately 32 million peoplework from home professionally. It doesn’t matter whether you’re freelancing, running a personal business, or working remotely for a corporation; your home office plays a critical role in your professionalism, productivity, mental clarity, and overall well-being. But creating a space that truly supports your professional life takes more than just a computer and a chair.

Working from home requires deliberate planning and a keen sense of balance. Here’s how to thoughtfully blend a home office into your everyday life—so that it works for you, not against you.

Designate a Dedicated Space

The first step to creating a productive home office is separation. Even if you don’t have an entire room to spare, carve out a defined space that signals a separate “work zone.” This could be a low-traffic area such as a corner of a seldom-used room, a converted closet (yes, “cloffices” are real – stay tuned for Part 2 of this series), or even a garage studio. Rethink the rooms in your house and consider reassigning their function or rearranging the room. Can a divider be added, or a door? Get creative; don’t let preconceived ideas block your creativity.

An awkward, long rectangular space was converted into a lovely, small office. (credit: thespruce.com | design: OreStudios)

When selecting an office space, keep in mind it will be for your professional life and its success; it needs to be separate from your domestic life. You are the CEO of your home office; think like an executive. Executives do not have an office in a laundry room, storage room, back entry, mudroom, or their personal bedroom (or any occupied bedroom for that matter). CEOs have strategically placed offices that hold respect for the business without distractions, which means high-traffic areas should not be considered when deciding where to base your home office. They are not conducive to mental focus, clarity, and creativity. High-traffic areas such as kitchens, family rooms, living rooms, and dining rooms have too many visual distractions that draw your attention away from your business. Reserve your family’s living spaces for carefree family time, relaxing, and recharging. Don’t fill them with business tension, conference calls, and deadlines.

Why it matters: Physical boundaries help reinforce mental ones. Creating a “work zone” mentally signals your brain and mindset that you are now stepping out of your private life into your professional life. Your brain gets the message: it’s time to focus. Strengthen the boundaries by establishing clear office hours. This reinforces the boundary and the mental signal. Post the hours, then stick to them. Allow yourself to take breaks and a lunch hour, especially if working full-time, just as you would in an off-site office.

One of the biggest challenges of working from home is the blurred line between “on” and “off.” To avoid burnout, honor your working hours. Use visual cues like shutting your laptop, turning off your office light, or closing the door to signal the end of the workday. I know several home-based business owners who silence their office phone at closing time. This is a beautiful cue. It signals the brain that it’s time to relax, and it shifts its focus to family time, making your loved ones a top priority.

Creating zones and respecting those separations creates balance. When you respect the separations, so will your family. This will help your mental acuity find comfort in knowing how to energize you for the appropriate zone you are in.

The space above a garage can become a beautiful “work zone.” (credit: houzz.com | design: Liberty Hill Construction)

Prioritize Comfort and Ergonomics

It’s tempting to make do with a kitchen chair and dining table. I’ve even seen people use a card table and chair. Don’t give in to the temptation. Makeshift configurations usually have poor ergonomics, which causes physical strain and long-term health issues; and not only that, it does nothing to support your professional morale. Take your home office seriously, invest in an adjustable chair, position your monitor at eye level, and keep your wrists neutral when typing. If your business requires hours of typing, consider a split keyboard.

Select a chair and desk worthy of a CEO. It needs to not only conform to your physical proportions; it needs to boost your confidence. A chair with a high back that supports your head and a solid desk is the perfect choice to achieve CEO self-assurance. The desk is the energetic foundation of your professional life. Do not select a glass desk or table-like desk; these traits are fragile, airy, and vulnerable, and they are not traits that support a successful career. When you sit down to work, you should feel energized and physically ready for a day of productivity.

If your work requires long periods of time on the computer, try a standing desk or desk converter for flexibility. These are not for everyone, but can be a wonderful way to change positions as you work. Also, consider a blue-light screen for your monitor to reduce your exposure to harmful artificial lighting and digital eye strain. By reducing stress on your eyes and brain, you will naturally improve your overall health and vitality. There’s no need to add additional stressors to your workday.

Blend Style with Function

A home office should reflect you, as well as be a part of your home’s décor. It should not feel like a sterile cubicle dropped into your home or an afterthought. Choose colors, décor, and furniture that align with your home’s aesthetic and your personal energy, while still serving a functional purpose and your professional brand. Every color holds a vibration, and every person has a unique vibration that resonates with specific colors. If you’d like to boost the energy in your home office, contact me to learn how color affects your mental and emotional energy.

If your business requires virtual meetings, the environment behind you is crucial. It will subliminally speak volumes about your character, professionalism, authenticity, and attitude to those in the meeting. Be mindful and use that space wisely.

Ideas to consider:

• Use decorative storage to reduce clutter. Physical clutter causes mental clutter.
• Add plants for a touch of nature and improved air quality. Keep the plants watered and fertilized. Sick and dying plants bring sick and struggling energy into your office and career.
• Incorporate artwork or create a mood wall to inspire creativity. Visual décor should always be uplifting and empowering. Surround yourself with artwork and messages that you can relate to so that in a split-second glance your mood and self-worth are recharged. Along with inspiring art, include photos of you receiving an award or diploma, you with co-workers or clients, positive media coverage of you and your business, etc. Remember, whatever your eyes see imprints the brain, which affects your success, confidence, and attitude.

This small office includes a “mood wall” to inspire BIG ideas. (credit: thespruce.com | design: Calimia Home | photo: Jeanne Canto)

Incorporate Movement into Your Day

Without commutes or water cooler walks, it’s easy to get sedentary when working from home. Integrate movement into your workday by:

• Setting hourly reminders to stretch, and/or take a lap around the house or garden
• Doing short yoga, chair yoga from a chair other than your desk chair, or mobility routines between tasks
• Taking calls while standing or walking

Making time to get the blood flowing in your body will not only improve your health, it will improve your whole day! Your body (and brain) will thank you.

Leverage Smart Technology

Smart lighting, noise-canceling headphones, or voice assistants can enhance your workflow and minimize distractions. A good webcam and microphone setup also goes a long way in improving communication and professionalism in virtual meetings.

Lighting plays a huge role in our productivity. Lighting that is too dim or warm (yellow) causes eye strain as well as mental fatigue. Warm lighting should be used at the end of the day to help you wind down or create a relaxing, intimate ambiance. It is not for the active office, unless you have an area set aside as a meditation/recharging area, then a table lamp with a soft light can ease the mind. To keep the mind sharp and awake, consider lighting between 3000-4000 Kelvin. This is not as bright as Daylight bulbs, but it will make a bright, energizing light for a home office. Daylight bulbs are usually 5000 Kelvin and can become harsh in a home office. They are typically used in large office buildings, hospitals, institutions, etc.

Create Transition Rituals

When your commute is only a few steps, it can be hard to mentally shift gears. Try establishing rituals that mark the start and end of your day:

Morning: dress appropriately for your career, fill your appointed office mug with your favorite coffee or tea, open your planner, or play a focus playlist.

Evening: shut down your computer, tidy your desk, turn off the lights, silence your business phone, and go for a walk. (Take your loyal companion with you; you’ll be a hero!)

These small actions create psychological “bookends” to your day, creating a balance, peace, and centeredness in your life.

Be Kind to Yourself

Your home office doesn’t need to be magazine-perfect to be effective. It should be a space that you love spending time in while also supporting your needs. It should tastefully reflect your personality, and evolve as your work life changes. Be open to tweaking your setup over time and give yourself grace as you find your rhythm. As you blend your home and home office, keep in mind that the goal is to create a space that reflects the business you aspire to, not the business you have.

Embrace Your Home’s Flexibility

Blending a home office into your everyday life isn’t just about furniture or square footage—it’s about designing a space that empowers you to show up at your best, every single day. With intention, creativity, and a little trial and error, your home can become the perfect hub for family and friends as well as a hub for your professional life, where the mind finds focus, inspiration, and balance.

How are you blending your home office into your everyday life?

….. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this 3-part series—there’s so much more we can talk about.