If you’re like me, you’re fully embracing the work-from-home life at this point. At first, it was a little strange, but now you have your whole setup with your favorite candles and plants nearby! Working from home requires cultivating an environment that stimulates creativity and helps us hone our concentration. Working from home has given us the freedom and flexibility many have long sought, but it’s important to ensure you optimize your space to be as productive and focused as possible. Small changes can make big differences in your mood, mindset, and ability to focus. We interviewed Nora Tobin, performance enhancement and executive coach to Fortune 100 companies, nutrition specialist, and CEO of Nora’s Naturals Coffee, who shares her top three tips for creating the perfect work-from-home environment!
A CEO’s Top Tips to Create a Productive Work-from-Home Environment
1) Have the right smells
Rosemary, Jasmine, Cinnamon, and Lemongrass scents offer a wide range of useful benefits that accompany your style and how you like to be productive. Rosemary scents are known to positively affect memory and alertness, increasing both. For those looking to be more mellow, Lemongrass might be the better option, as it is linked to easing anxiety and reducing stress.
2) Have the right lighting
Lighting design changes based on the building type and what’s used for (leisure vs. productivity, for example). Hence why reading with a nightstand lamp is more enjoyable to most people than being under the overhead fluorescent lighting in most public buildings. You should look for a light of about 300-500 lux for your home setup. For example, 500 lux for your workspace can be achieved with a 1,000-lumen desk light. By comparison, a sunny day outdoors is up to about 100,000 lux.
3) Have the right plants
Don’t underestimate having a plant by your side to join you in working from home. Having been linked to improving mood, reducing fatigue, and lowering stress and anxiety, plants can be a great way to add life to your work-from-home space or even on top of your desk. The snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) or modern bamboo plants are a great, low-maintenance option for those looking to add a little greenery to their workflow.
