Watch: These ‘Work from Hybrid’ Tools Boost Productivity at Your Home and the Office
Splitting time between your home office and yourofficeoffice isn’t something everyone succeeds at right away — there is definitely some adjusting to do. Getting into a different headspace (and wardrobe) when you’re seeing co-workers in person is one thing, but making sure you have everything you need to work in both spaces can quickly make hybrid working a burden.
Francesca McCaffery has had a “work from hybrid” schedule for a while now, and she was looking for tools and home furnishings to help her focus better on all her jobs. In addition to working at two non-profits that serve homeless youth in Los Angeles, she hosts a home wellness podcastandis writing novel. Busy busy!
As the demands of Francesca’s jobs and creative endeavors ramped up, she wanted to make her days in the office more convenient and her days at home more productive. With advice and recommendations from the workplace experts atStaples Connect™(Staples Stores’ new center for home and office essentials), Francesca found the perfect upgrades to make her basic setup totally professional.
Need some inspo of your own? See what Francesca uses to support her “work from hybrid” schedule and get work done at home, the office, or wherever she needs to!
An environment to inspire focus
Staying motivated at work isn’t just about sheer willpower. A functional office — with an easy-to-readwall clock— plays just as big of a role in day-to-day productivity. “A beautiful work environment makes your work day, and every day, so much easier and more productive,” Francesca says. To keep her from hunching over her desk, she swapped in a more comfortable, ergonomicchair. (Bonus: The clean, modern look makes it more enjoyable to sit down and work.) She added apatterned matbeneath to protect her hardwood floors.
Francesca’s home office gets pretty good natural light, but since she works into the evening sometimes, she wanted another lighting option. She opted for anadjustable lampwith energy-efficient LED (no more flickering bulbs!) that shines right over her desk. And when she really wants to achieve a flow state, she can block out distractions with hernoise-cancelling headphones.
Organizers that help with productivity
Clutter can be a huge barrier to getting anything done. Who has time to scrounge around for what they need when they’re on the clock? To keep her office supplies and hobby gear tidy, Francesca put together a matching desk,cabinet, andbookshelf, all with plenty of easy-to-access storage space. Plus, they serve as a neutral backdrop for her chic goldstapler,organizer,folders, andcatchall tray. She also grabbed agold framed magnetic dry erase calendarto keep her ideas and to-do list organized and accessible.
“你要爱你的工作空间,在秩序to be fully productive,” Francesca says. “I feel more on top of my schedule and even much more confidence when staying calm under pressure, whether that be for a Zoom presentation or an in-person event with funders. These products also help with the seamless switch from working from home and going to an office. When you are organized beautifully, you really do feel like you can take on the world.”
Portability maximizes flexibility
Because Francesca doesn’t have a designated desk at her non-profit offices, she has to make sure she packs everything she needs — no forgetting a charging cable! — when she heads out the door. Hermobile workstation(available in your local Staples Connect) has places for every electronic essential and lets her set up her own mini cubicle for added privacy at the office or a coffee shop. Herhigh-definition microphoneandcompact keyboardboth fold up easily, so she can spend the afternoon recording her podcast, working on her novel, or responding to emails wherever she lands.
Mindfulness is your greatest asset
Juggling her work and hobbies can be stressful, so Francesca has developed a fews simple ways to stay grounded. Every morning she does a mini meditation with positive affirmations, and in the afternoon she walks around her neighborhood to relax. She keeps herreusable water bottlewithin arm’s reach (and full of her favorite drink, iced tea) so she can stay hydrated and energized throughout the day.
“The main challenge is being able to make the separation from work and personal life really front and center,” Francesca says. “Separating work items from personal items, keeping everything individualized and in place, it can be challenging. These products let me have the best of both worlds. They make my hybrid work schedule seamless, and dare I say, pleasurable and fun.”
Whether you’re working totally from home or starting to go back to the office, Staples Connect has the best advice and products to support your schedule, whatever it looks like.