While lockdown has started to ease over the last few weeks, many Brits are still having to work from home to limit their chances of contracting the potentially fatal coronavirus. This means they have been creating make-shift offices out of their bedrooms or living rooms for the last three months, which can get a bit boring after a while.
This is why it could be a good idea to make the most out of a Victorian conservatory or traditional orangery in your house, as it provides an extra space to keep your work clutter and important documents away from the area you sleep, eat or relax.
Indeed, it is not wise to spend all your waking hours hauled up in your bedroom on conference calls or writing complex documents, as this can deeply impact your sleep. For a good night’s rest, it is important to keep work materials, as well as computers and work phones away from the bedroom.
Dr Sophie Bostock, sleep expert for Bensons for Beds, told Metro: “If you start to merge the boundaries between work and rest, one will intrude into the other… You’ll be less productive at work (and more likely to nod off), and yet when it comes to switching off the light, thoughts about work are more likely to persist.”
Your body will begin associating the bedroom with work, which will make it harder to switch off at night and result in sleeping problems.
Pscyhologist Charlotte Armitage also told the news provider: “Your bed needs to remain a place that is associated with calm activities and sleeping.”
Similarly, it is not a good idea to do your work in the lounge, as this should be a place for relaxing and unwinding after a long day. If you associate the living room with working and conference calls, it will become more difficult to have a break from the office.
The psychologist stated that having distinct boundaries will improve mental health for those working from home.
“If you work in every room of your house, you will start to associate your home with work, making it very difficult to switch off from work and creating unhealthy imbalance in your work-life routine. Ideally, you need a space that is specifically for work that you can close the door on when you want to switch off on an evening,” she commented.
Ideally, people will have a study they can use that will just be for work purposes, enabling them to enjoy the rest of the house as they had done before.
However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a home office, in which case a conservatory or orangery is a good alternative. This room is often regarded as an extra sitting room, so it is not the main relaxation hub in the house, giving workers the opportunity to still enjoy their lounge to unwind in at night.
In addition to this, as you will be surrounded with floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy views of the garden even while at work. This could help you feel chilled and closer to nature.
During lockdown, Britain has experienced some glorious days of sunshine as well, which can be tough on those who have had to stay at home working. However, being able to hit the books in a conservatory means you can open the doors and windows and enjoy some of the balmy temperatures and bright sunshine along with the rest of the nation.
