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Jasmine Peteran

Transitioning Between the Home and the Home Office

Home Office
Home Office
Iana Zyrianova © 123RF.com

Amid all the Zoom calls and email threads, I sit in my makeshift home office staring at the dust collecting on the windowsill. We’ve entered into uncharted territory, yet every day looks the same. I started my career with a love of language, of words and of writing, but over the last few weeks these things I once loved have quickly become chores.

Carla DeSantis wrote last week that there is a clear and necessary distinction between required reading and reading for pleasure. We forget this all too easily when we spend our days with our noses deep in manuscripts, but it’s especially true when all our “required reading” is now being done from home.

In an effort to escape the inevitable black hole of pandemic-driven isolation and mental breakdowns, I’ve thrown myself into my work. But at what cost? The improvised home office I worked so hard to make feel inspiring and inviting is beginning to feel like a cage. Yet I refuse to be trapped by own mentality. It’s in trying times like these that I am reminded of how important it is to maintain balance in our day-to-day lives.

As someone who isn’t used to working from home, I realized what I needed most was to create distance between my home and my home office. Simple changes can have a dramatic impact. Here are some tips for separating business from pleasure in the wake of this pandemic:

Change the ambience

Adjust the lighting in your workspace to distinguish work from play. Try moving some lamps around; maybe light a candle. Try using an oil diffuser to transform your monotonous workspace into a refreshed one.

Rearrange the space

Space is limited right now. Make the most of what you’ve got by swapping out the furniture. Maybe you want to create a child-like setting and sprawl out on the floor with the couch cushions. Who cares — there’s no one around to judge you.

Find a new playlist

Streaming services are great at tailoring playlists to suit your mood. Try searching your preferred platform for “morning wake-up music” or “evening relaxation.” This can work as background noise or as a focal point for your wind-down time.

Dust off the journal

Maybe you’ve been journaling your whole life, or maybe this is new for you. Either way, journaling is a great way to separate your work from your worries. Write longhand and give your editorial conscience a break. Maybe you have some old gel pens lying around?

You’re not expected to be productive every minute of every day, but it can be tough to buckle down when the only available workspace is in your bedroom. Separate your working hours with small but noticeable changes, and you’ll find it easier to relax when you step away.

Remember, it’s never one-size-fits-all: how do you make it work?

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About the author

Jasmine Peteran

Jasmine Peteran is a writer and editor from Toronto. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and publishing and works as a freelance content writer, book editor and graphic designer. Peteran currently resides in Brisbane with her husband. You can find her at www.jasmineolivia.com.

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4 Comments on “Transitioning Between the Home and the Home Office”

  • Thanks for the mention, Jasmine! Great blog post. As someone who always works from home, I concur that the key is to have a designated space; it took me while to find that. I always try to keep to a regular work day, so that when everyone else is home from work, I can also enjoy leisure time with my family and not have work creep into all hours of my home life (although I have to admit that marketing does creep in). I do see the challenges that you mention for my husband, when he occasionally works from home without a designated space.

    • Jasmine Peteran

      says:

      Hi Carla, I’m so glad you found the article relatable – I’m sure everyone is adjusting to new work environments and I can appreciate the struggle! Happy to hear you and your husband are managing alright!

  • Thanks for your insightful suggestions, Jasmine. You have given me a fresh perspective on how to maintain the useful distinction between work and the rest of life. It’s not just about space and clutter. Your suggestions are helpful for making the internal transition as well as maintaining the external limits.

    • Jasmine Peteran

      says:

      Hi Virginia, you’re absolutely right – the transition needs to be made beyond the space. I’m so glad you found my perspective helpful. When we’re unable to physically separate, it can be very difficult to find new ways to do so. I’ve found the oil diffuser to be particularly helpful as scent has so much to do with our mental states. I like to use a combination of lemongrass and eucalyptus oils for working hours, then switching to something more soothing like peppermint and lavender for my downtime!

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