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Working From Home? How to Reclaim Your House Over the Holidays
It can be tough to switch off when your home doubles as your work space – here, experts offer some practical solutions
Georgia Madden
24 December 2021
With working from home increasingly the norm for many of us, the lines between work and personal life are blurring. And it’s making many of us stressed; according to new research from Allianz, two in five Australians are worried they won’t be able to switch off over the holiday period, as their home has turned into their office space.
Worried you won’t be able to relax and enjoy your home over the holidays now that it doubles as a work space? We asked the experts what you can do about it.
Worried you won’t be able to relax and enjoy your home over the holidays now that it doubles as a work space? We asked the experts what you can do about it.
For Sophie Kost, lead designer at My Beautiful Abode and mother of two, the holidays are all about the juggle. “Often I’ll find myself perched at the dining table for work during the holidays,” she says. “I make it work by having set times for work and play, and packing away my work tools – laptop, client files and samples – in the spare room during family leisure times.
“I try not to do too much work over the holidays and, luckily, many suppliers are on their break and my clients are generally in holiday mode too,” she says.
“My sons are used to me working from home as I started my business from the dining table, so we adjust very quickly. I’ll have a chat with them at the start of the day about what we are up to and our plans for the day. I have an out-of-office email response that also sets expectations for my clients about my availability over the holidays.”
“I try not to do too much work over the holidays and, luckily, many suppliers are on their break and my clients are generally in holiday mode too,” she says.
“My sons are used to me working from home as I started my business from the dining table, so we adjust very quickly. I’ll have a chat with them at the start of the day about what we are up to and our plans for the day. I have an out-of-office email response that also sets expectations for my clients about my availability over the holidays.”
While it’s tempting to respond to every email notification over the holidays, setting some personal boundaries is important for our health, says Jaimie Bloch, clinical psychologist and founder of Mindmovers Psychology. “The past two years have been emotionally and mentally draining for everyone. Our brains and bodies need time to recover, therefore it is important to switch off over the holidays to help reset, restore and recover some balance in our lives.
“By not prioritising switching off, we won’t be able to receive the rest that we need, which can leave us feeling stressed and disconnected from our friends and family,” says Bloch.
“Additionally, you’re not allowing your nervous system to down-regulate after an intense year, which means you are not enabling the process that helps our internal biology to calm and restore balance to mind and body,” she says.
“By not prioritising switching off, we won’t be able to receive the rest that we need, which can leave us feeling stressed and disconnected from our friends and family,” says Bloch.
“Additionally, you’re not allowing your nervous system to down-regulate after an intense year, which means you are not enabling the process that helps our internal biology to calm and restore balance to mind and body,” she says.
“The end of the year is a natural point to switch off, and one way to achieve this is to consciously and intentionally turn our home offices back into our homes.
“After the year that was, closing the laptop during the holiday break is essential. The last thing we need is to bring the events from work into this period, which can create unnecessary stress and worry,” says Bloch.
Looking to design a new work-from-home space? Find a local interior designer on Houzz
“After the year that was, closing the laptop during the holiday break is essential. The last thing we need is to bring the events from work into this period, which can create unnecessary stress and worry,” says Bloch.
Looking to design a new work-from-home space? Find a local interior designer on Houzz
How to successfully switch off
Bloch says:
Bloch says:
- Set expectations: Before heading off on a break, chat with your team about expectations around work and communication during the holiday period. It’s important to understand what works for everyone and who may be available if and when required.
- Turn off work notifications: After a year of constantly being alert and available, it can be difficult to break this habit. When you are on a break, it is important to switch off all work communication platforms – especially on your phone. This can help you focus on resetting and relaxing without pressure or distractions.
- Consider ways to consciously switch off: While it sounds simple, switching off and relaxing can be hard. Throughout the break, try to implement time throughout the day that is dedicated to switching off. This can look like technology-free mornings or no-phone zones when with the children, going on long walks or practising meditation or yoga.
- Plan your holidays: Try to make the most of your break and schedule activities that you love or have been meaning to do. For example, organising a catch up with an old friend or a day trip to the beach.
- Reflect on the past year: The festive break is the perfect time to re-evaluate what worked and what didn’t over the past year.
Interior stylist Gina Ciancio of Style Curator. Image: Allianz.
Gina Ciancio, interior designer, and founder of Style Curator shares some practical design tips for creating a healthy work space that can transition to a relaxation space during the holidays.
Gina Ciancio, interior designer, and founder of Style Curator shares some practical design tips for creating a healthy work space that can transition to a relaxation space during the holidays.
- Choose a suitable work spot: Select an area in your home that is well lit and separate from common areas, such as shared living and dining rooms.
- Make it flexible: Find ways to have your desk pack down quickly and easily. Also, have an easily accessible but out-of-sight storage space, such as as drawer or two in a sideboard, to store office equipment.
- Prioritise good lighting: This is such an overlooked area of design but one that can significantly impact our productivity and how you feel. If you don’t have sufficient natural light, invest in a couple of lamps that can double as décor pieces.
Image: Allianz.
- Embrace essential oils, incense or candles: Beautifully scented products can help you stay calm and focus when you’re working.
- Bring in nature: Plants, cut flowers and crystals can bring an extra element of energy and vibrancy into your work-from-home space.
- Inject pops of colour that make you feel good: There’s plenty of research that supports the connection between colour and psychology. For example, blue is the most tranquil colour on the spectrum while green has a revitalising effect. Think about the mood you want to create in your work-from-home area and look to add three to five touches in the form of a vase or a couple of cushions.
- Introduce personal touches: Add some photos from the past year or display objects that are meaningful to you into your work space to make it more personal and inviting.
Your turn
What’s your secret to switching off? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want more on work-life balance? Don’t miss this story: Work From Home? Here’s How to Maintain a Work-Life Balance
What’s your secret to switching off? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want more on work-life balance? Don’t miss this story: Work From Home? Here’s How to Maintain a Work-Life Balance
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