How to Design a Soul-Nourishing Workspace at Home

Written by: Julie Schuster, Julie Schuster Design Studio

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With so many of us working from home, practicing isolation and social-distancing, which is critical to stemming the spread of COVID-19, our need for soul-nourishing at-home workspaces has never been greater. Our physical environments have a huge subconscious impact on how efficiently, and happily, we work – which, in turn, can dramatically affect the quality of our output.

I’ve received a lot of questions from clients, friends, and family about how we can simply, and effectively, create at-home spaces that support productivity and nurture the soul. Here’s how it’s done:

  • Take Command: When choosing a spot to set up your workstation, pick somewhere that empowers you from a Feng Shui perspective. When you sit facing a main entrance, you have the power to “see” all the opportunities coming your way and “invite them in”. This auspicious “command position” relieves you from the discomfort of looking over your shoulder to see who is coming or going, too.

  • Encourage Creativity: Capture creative ideas and moments of fleeting inspiration using chalkboards, whiteboards, brainstorming pads, and post-it notes (all readily available online through Amazon, Staples and the like). Enhance creativity with light greens/blues and revitalizing essential oils like citrus, peppermint, and eucalyptus.

  • Go Virtual: The COVID climate is pushing all industries forcefully into the digital space. Adapt or get left behind! Does your home have the connectivity you require to keep up? Consider calling your internet service provider to increase your internet speed. Set up a free company account on Zoom to enable seamless video conferences with colleagues, clients and friends. Maintain that vital human connection!

  • Go Green: Welcome Mother Nature into your new workspace with open, loving arms. Remember we are all, first and foremost, biological creatures that require a deep connection to our natural world. Orchids and succulents can be picked up at your local grocery store, last for months, and create a sense of companionship without the need for a green thumb. Making your workspace environmentally-friendly will strengthen your ties to nature, too. Recycle diligently and avoid excessive printing by going digital whenever possible.

  • Stick to a Schedule: It’s hard to separate work and leisure when working from home. But it can be done. Design your day in a way that clearly defines work/rest hours. Reinforce your daily schedule with regular wake-up hours and clearly defined breaks. Be sure to clear away your workspace at the end of the day. Getting dressed in work clothes will help put you in a productive mindset, too.

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