Make It Work; Stay Home Edition
5 tips to enhance your home office without leaving home
Expectation
Reality
Monday, Tuesday, What-day...?
Got into the groove of Work From Home yet?
We hope you've found your own rhythm.
Hang on, are you feeling that backache too?
Don't worry, you're not alone.
INSIDE speaks with Samuele Martelli, Vice President, Product Development & Design for some tips and tricks so you can be even more productive and comfy while working from home.
Responsible for the beautifully designed coworking spaces like the upcoming Bridge+ at 79 Robinson Road, try these tips out.
In this Stay Home edition, we bring you into our homes as we show you some of the INSIDE team's workstations. Real and unfiltered.
p.s. tag @CapitaLand on Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / Twitter so we can be inspired by your home offices too!
Photo by @Paolo contratti - Kristalia
What is your design philosophy?
Samuele: A designer is like a tailor. If I want a new shirt tailored to fit, I will need a tailor who's able to take the right measurements and make an apparel which looks good on me.
As a client, I will need to tell my tailor what colour works best on me and what fabrics I like, details I want etc. These decisions will be made by me, not my tailor.
Similarly, a good designer must be able to understand the project's needs, client's brief, consider the locations - before he or she proposes the best-fit solution.
Designing is about providing the best solution for a problem, not purely creating something that the designer fancies.
What do you love / hate about being a designer?
Samuele: Designing is very tricky. There'll always be someone who loves your work; someone who hates it.
The best way to approach design is to avoid following trends and favouring personal choices. Instead, answer objective problems so that you can make your stakeholders happy... at least most of them.
The key element in Workplace Design is creating a comfortable environment. Inject some personality, but not overwhelm. Energise, but not to a point of making you tired after a long while. Curate a place that will make you feel... at home.
Photo by @Maxrusso.design
Samuele's 5 Home Office Enhancement Tips
1. Identify your workspace
If you live with your family, perhaps your challenge will be transforming the dining table into your workstation every morning, before converting it to a dining area for lunch, dinner and so on.
Identify your own workspace and demarcate it as your 'home office'. Keep up with your routine of 'turning up for work' and be disciplined with that ritual.
It'll help get you through the month-long Circuit Breaker.
Photo by @Livingwiththelees
2. Keep the lights on
Be sure that you have proper lighting at all times.
If you need to, move your floor or desk light closer to you.
Alternatively, just move the entire desk near to the light source or window.
3. Take a seat, make it comfortable
Using that dining chair for the third week already?
You're probably shifting around as much as we did.
Consider ordering the ergonomic chair online.
If you have kids, they can always use it for schoolwork in future.
If you're on a low-cost budget like our teammate here, then just order some plush cushions online.
Photo by @Tsunyuen
4. Prop your monitor up
With very limited mobility in our new home offices, it is a good idea to improvise and create your own adjustable desk.
Take a leaf from our colleague's ironing board work desk.
Alternatively, stake your laptop or monitor on books or boxes so you're standing up and moving a little instead of sitting down all day.
Photo by @Vancobb_
5. Accessorise - with your own personality
Even though you're home, make your new 'office' an extension of yourself.
Add a little potted plant perhaps?
Use your office water bottle to remind yourself of your work rituals.
Perhaps a photo of your family, dog or anything which makes you happy!
Don't forget, this is your space.
Make it yours, make it work!
From INSIDE, with love
As we stay home to stay healthy this season, remember to stay happy.
Nourish yourself - emotionally, physically and mentally. Don't forget to be kind to yourself, your family and also those who work hard for us on the frontlines.
Perhaps offer your food delivery riders a cold drink or even some sweets and snacks to thank them for their hard work in the harsh heat.
If you have a heartwarming encounter at our malls, serviced residences or with our colleagues and you'd like to thank them, drop us a note!
We'll keep sharing our weekly stories with you, from the comforts of our workstations...