Working from home has become a permanent reality for a lot of people in the past 18 months. For many it’s a welcome respite from long commutes and has given them more quality time at home, but others are struggling with the blurred boundaries of working and living in the same space. The flexibility of working from home can be liberating, however it can also feel lonely at times too. Whether you’re new to working from home or would like to create better working habits, you need to have a healthy work-life balance. Here are a few tips that will help you to maintain that balance.

Maintain your morning routine:

Have you ever noticed you’re far more productive if you start your day by making your bed and getting dressed for the day, rather than lounging around in your pj’s until lunch time? Try and stick to a work-style routine. If you usually get up at 5am and go for a run before leaving for work, then continue to do this. Make sure you’re sitting at your desk when you would normally be arriving at the office and give yourself time to check through your emails so you’re on top of things before your first virtual meeting or call.

There might be days where you don’t feel like getting out of your pjs while working at your desk, so if you don’t have to be on camera, every now and again treat yourself to a pyjama day! This is one of the perks of working from home, but try to stick to your routine of waking up at the same time and having your morning coffee like you normally would. Just don’t make it a habit as dressing sloppily (or not changing out of your sleep wear) can make you feel sluggish and less productive.

Create a workspace that is clutter free:

In an ideal world, it would be amazing to have an office or study with a desk and proper office chair (ergonomically set to the right height), but this is not the case for many of us, especially if you never intended on working from home before the pandemic. A spare room or bedroom where you can put a desk in the corner is also a great option, or even the dining room table. Try to designate a fixed place as your “workstation” where you can work from daily. Keep it neat and tidy with only what you need for work around you. A couple of pot plants and a candle might be nice too, but only if you have the space. Ideally you want a calming area that’s clutter-free with minimal distractions.

Schedule breaks:

It’s very easy to get stuck into a project and before you know it, hours have passed, and you haven’t had a break. Try to take a few short breaks and then a longer one for lunch. There are many apps out there where you can set work and break times or use your reminders app on your phone. Take time to make yourself a coffee or get up and have a stretch or walk around the garden. It’s important to let your brain and body relax so you return to your workspace feeling fresh and ready to focus. Take a lunch break, just as you would if you were in the office. Eat a proper lunch and go for a walk or use this time to stretch or do an online yoga class. Get some fresh air and natural light and try to switch off for that hour.

Stay socially connected too:

Keep in contact with colleagues and communicate with them on a regular basis. Face-to-face conversations are still best, and this is one of the things most people miss while working from home, but thankfully technology helps us bridge that gap in the interim. There are lots of ways you can communicate while seeing your colleague online and still feel like you are interacting with one another. Keep a group chat open on your computer so you can quickly message people and even share a laugh here and there by sending a funny meme or gif. And if you’re feeling a bit lonely, pick up the phone or jump on a video chat and ask your work colleague how they are doing, how their weekend was and how their family are.

Leave work ‘at work’:

This is one of the most challenging things to do when working from home, but it’s also the most important. Set your hours and only work between them. It’s very tempting to open your laptop at night when your kiddies are asleep or on the weekends. Remember you need a break and your family want to spend time with you without you being distracted with work. If you’re lucky enough to have a study or office, close the door after your working day is finished. If you’re working from your dining room table, shut down your laptop and even pack it away for the night.

Enjoy the perks:

If you used to have to get up early to commute to work, you can now use that extra time to sleep in a little longer or enjoy a run or a swim before your day starts. In one of your breaks, you can put a stew on to cook and keep an eye on it — or bake a loaf of bread, so your family has a delicious dinner to come home to. Check out our tips for health and fitness in the home so you get your exercise done in your lunch break, then have a shower and return to work feeling fresh. Wrap yourself up in a blanket if it’s chilly outside or work on the soft carpet in the afternoon sunshine, if that’s what you feel like doing. As working from home seems here to stay for many, you might even want to look at investing in refreshing your home with new carpet to help you enjoy your space more – find out why here!

The past year and a half have been somewhat challenging for many of us, but with the start of a new season, let’s celebrate and welcome the warmer months by bringing spring, new beginnings, positivity and life into our homes. Even if we can’t socialise and enjoy picnics in the park with friends or go to our favourite restaurants as we used to, we can still celebrate spring at home too. After all, it’s the small things we need to celebrate in our lives to bring us joy! So, “spring” into action and have a look at these ideas on how you can bring spring into your home this year.

Fresh flowers

The sight and smell of fresh flowers is a quick and easy way to brighten your surroundings and your mood. Either purchase a beautiful spring bouquet of flowers from your local supermarket or florist, or if you are lucky enough to have a garden full of flowers, place some of these into a vase or even a few nice glasses or bottles in spots where they will catch your eye. Adding indoor plants is also a great reminder of spring – take a look at our tips for adding greenery to your home.

Change up your linen and throws

Spring is all about light colours and textures, so put away your dark, heavy, winter blankets and replace them with white, crisp duvet covers and linen. This will instantly brighten up your rooms.  Bring out the lightweight, textured throws: if you want to add a bit of colour into your home, a new throw or rug is a great way to do this. You can read our tips for picking the perfect rug before you hit the shops. Another great option is to change your cushions depending on the season and if you need help with arranging them we have put together a how to guide for arranging your scatter cushions.

Floral Candles

Bring the smell of a spring garden into your home with floral fragrances such as hyacinth, jasmine and rose. Scented candles or reed diffusers are an affordable and easy way to bring those floral notes into your home and help put a spring in your step.

Sunshine and fresh air

Spring is all about freshness and new beginnings. This is the perfect time to shake out your throws, blankets, pillowcases and sheets. Leave your cushions and duvets outside for a couple of hours to get some fresh air and sunshine. This is also a great time to give your carpets and upholstery a good spring clean – here are our easy steps for you to follow!

Open your windows and doors and let the fresh air in. As things are warming up you will appreciate this more. Let the smell and sounds of spring full your home. The best way to celebrate spring is bring what’s outside, inside. It’s great for your mind and will bring a sense of liveliness into your home.

Picnic in your garden, or a local park

Get the kiddies to help you decorate a space outside with fresh flowers and greenery surrounding you. Put a Picnic blanket on the grass with a few snacks and drinks and enjoy the outdoors. Play some games with your children outside and enjoy the warmth of the sunshine and vitamin D. Studies have proven that spending time in nature really helps reduce stress, so enjoy it and take it all in.