maximizing your WFH space
Work from home can be a tantalizing, somewhat Faustian bargain. Sure, you’ll get a few extra days a week to run the dishwasher in between meetings, but it often involves some heavy tradeoffs. Repeating yourself in Zoom calls for those not listening, scheduling meetings around childcare, or trying to write out an email while the dog begs to be walked: it’s a lot to balance. We’d all like to be just as productive at home while at the office, but it’s not an easy task.
One way to reduce your stressors is by reworking your environment. Cutting down on bad habits while enabling a healthy workflow sounds great, right? With some design tweaks to your surroundings, it might not be so hard. Plus, with blazing-fast internet from Verizon, you can get the most from your connection, no matter what you’re working on. We’ve put together this flowchart to help you determine where you fall on the home-office-improvement scale, then see how you can get the most from your space.
Which of these two is a better description of your workspace?
A mosh pit of constant distraction
A blank slate with no soul
Easy: Hours of laser-focused work
I need to trigger a “lightbulb” moment
A playground
A bank vault
A designated focus space
1
What kind of work are you looking to get done?
2
Your ideal office more closely resembles:
3
Pacing, thinking, and chin-scratching
Nose to the grindstone
What does your workflow look like?
4
Your office needs to shut out the outside world so you can put your head down and put in the hours. That’s OK, but you may need to make some changes. Acoustic paneling can be a cheap fix to cut out the outside noises, but a door lock might be what you really need. One fun option: an “On Air” or similar office signage that tells the rest of your household when you’re in focus mode.
Don’t forget to cut out the biggest distraction of all: a spotty internet connection. With fast, reliable Fios Home Internet on Verizon's 100-percent fiber-optic network, you can make sure all your meetings run smoothly. And since Whole-Home Wi-Fi is included with Fios 1 Gig at no extra charge, you can truly stay connected from any room in your house.
One thing Disney’s Mulan, Merida, and Snow White all have in common: they usually prefer to unwind with family — and so do you. No matter how admittedly weird or stubborn they might be, your family is still your biggest stress reliever. Sure, they’re loud and you can almost never get
a minute alone, but there’s something calming when you’re in the eye of their storm.
Lively revelry for you and your loved ones can look like a lot of things, but it almost always includes music, food, and games and puzzles galore. Ready for some R&R? Shop these
one-of-a-kind illustrated puzzles from the Ravensburger Disney Castle collection.
A balanced home office
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Your workflow pulls you in different directions: sometimes it’s creativity mode, other times it calls for total focus. A balanced space will give you the option to shut down distractions while still allowing for some breathing room. Think whiteboards, timers to schedule breaks, and good views, if possible. Give yourself a few non-screen options like books, sketch pads, or puzzles, so you’re not flipping around tabs constantly.
One fun addition that might help: a smart speaker system. It can give you facts and figures and keep a timer, but also play music when you need to lift the mood. Don’t skimp on the internet, either: Fios Home Internet gives you a fast, reliable connection no matter where your work takes you. And with Whole-Home Wi-Fi coverage, Fios 1 Gig plans include a Wi-Fi extender at no extra charge, to make sure your connection reaches everywhere you need it.
A balanced home office
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Lucky you, the work-from-homer who actually needs MORE distraction, not less. Your work relies more on breaks, breathing, and creativity than on focus. That means inspiration: if you’re a designer, maybe you need coffee table books and prints of your favorite work. If you’re a musician, maybe it’s displays of your favorite album covers, or biographies of the greats. Non-screen options are crucial here, as well as plants, fresh air, and hopefully, a view. One way to boost creativity: a desk treadmill to get your blood flowing: A Stanford study found that walking could boost creativity by as much as 60 percent, so try adding a treadmill under your desk to get your blood — and ideas — flowing.
One thing you definitely don’t need distracting you is mediocre internet. When you’re playing your favorite song for a brain boost, make sure you get the best connection with Verizon FiOS. Their whole-home internet plans offer Wi-Fi extenders to cover your home. And with plans starting at just $25 a month, you know you’re getting great internet for
a great price.
A creativity zone
Editor: Stephen Rubino
Designer: Marissa Dickson
TERMS OF USE
PRIVACY NOTICE
COOKIE POLICY
DO NOT SELL OR SHARE MY PERSONAL INFO
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CONTACT
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TERMS OF USE
PRIVACY NOTICE
COOKIE POLICY
DO NOT SELL OR SHARE MY PERSONAL INFO
LICENSING FAQ
ACCESSIBILITY
PLATFORM STATUS
HOW WE RATE AND REVIEW PRODUCTS
CONTACT
TIP US
COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
ABOUT
ETHICS STATEMENT
THE VERGE IS A VOX MEDIA NETWORK
ADVERTISE WITH US
JOBS VOX MEDIA
© 2024 VOX MEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Start Over
Start Over
Your workflow pulls you in different directions: sometimes it’s creativity mode, other times it calls for total focus. A balanced space will give you the option to shut down distractions while still allowing for some breathing room. Think whiteboards, timers to schedule breaks, and good views, if possible. Give yourself a few non-screen options like books, sketch pads, or puzzles, so you’re not flipping around tabs constantly.
One fun addition that might help: a smart speaker system. It can give you facts and figures and keep a timer, but also play music when you need to lift the mood. Don’t skimp on the internet, either: with whole-home coverage from Verizon Fios, you can get a strong connection no matter where your work takes you. The network’s Fios 1 and 2 Gig internet plans can provide extenders to make sure your connection is strong everywhere you need it.
A creativity zone
TERMS OF USE
PRIVACY NOTICE
COOKIE POLICY
DO NOT SELL OR SHARE MY PERSONAL INFO
LICENSING FAQ
ACCESSIBILITY
PLATFORM STATUS
HOW WE RATE AND REVIEW PRODUCTS
CONTACT
TIP US
COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
ABOUT
ETHICS STATEMENT
/ /
/
/
/
/ /
/
/ / /
TERMS OF USE
PRIVACY NOTICE
COOKIE POLICY
DO NOT SELL OR SHARE MY PERSONAL INFO
LICENSING FAQ
ACCESSIBILITY
PLATFORM STATUS
HOW WE RATE AND REVIEW PRODUCTS
CONTACT
TIP US
COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
ABOUT
ETHICS STATEMENT
THE VERGE IS A VOX MEDIA NETWORK
ADVERTISE WITH US
JOBS VOX MEDIA
© 2024 VOX MEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
/
@
ADVERTISE WITH US
JOBS VOX MEDIA