This is a collaborative post
Working from home as a mum can be chaotic at the best of times, so having a home office that meets your every need is essential. If your current workspace is lacking in both equipment and style, this blog could give you the inspiration you need to make some much-needed changes. For many families, working from home has become the norm, so if you’re going to be juggling kids and your career in the same space, you’ll need to think carefully about your setup. Before you head to the shops, check out this list:
Printer
Having a printer can help you focus at work. Long hours in front of a screen can be hard on our eyes and mind, so print out some essential documents and go over them in the garden on nice days. A printer can be helpful for your responsibilities as a mum as well. If your kids are at school, they might need to print homework or permission slips. It’s much easier to do all of this in your home office rather than heading off to the library, so invest in a printer and some good quality printer inks for canon machines. Your printer doesn’t have to take up much space and can be tucked away somewhere until it’s needed.
Planner
Planning your work and your home life is a challenge, so equip your home office with a big family planner. Lots of calendars and diaries now allow you to split your family commitments and your work commitments, giving you better visibility. Alternatively, if you really need to keep your personal and professional life separate, have two smaller planners you can switch between. You can sync these with your Google calendar and set alerts, ensuring you never miss a thing.
Ergonomic equipment
Mums have lots of aches and pains. Lifting your children, tidying up and carrying the shopping will take their toll, so don’t let an uncomfortable home office add to your discomfort. Sitting in a poorly made chair with a monitor that’s not the right height can cause back and neck pain in the long run. Ergonomic office equipment typically lasts a long time, so you’ll have it for years to come. Even if you don’t work from home forever, you’ll have it there for your partner or kids to use, making it a worthwhile investment.
Good lighting
Not everyone is lucky enough to have big windows in their home office, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer in darkness. A single yellow bulb won’t give you the light you need to work comfortably, especially in the winter months, so make sure you have a desk light and some spotlights to brighten your space. Consider using a bright daylight lamp to help you focus and lift your mood when you don’t see the sun for days on end. But remember to adjust your monitor to suit the light levels of the room to avoid eye strain.
