Work from home essentials
Work from Home Essential No. 3: A Favourite Coffee Shop
May 31st
I love coffee shops and I find that having one close by is a great advantage when you’re working from home. It provides a venue for all sorts of occasions – somewhere to go just for a change of scene, for a treat when you’ve completed something difficult, for a different environment in which to get your creative juices flowing, and to meet people either to discuss work or have a good old chat.
My favourite here in Frome is Divas, which is in the same building at the bottom end of town as Black Swan Arts, a gallery and shop, and some artists’ workshops. The counter display of colourful and healthy food makes you want to start at one side and work your way across to the other, ditto the cakes ranged across the top. You can sit outside in the pretty courtyard if the weather’s good, and browse the local and national papers while slurping the excellent coffee. Its only disadvantage is that it’s next to the library, where as you know I’m a regular visitor, so maybe we drop in more than we should – ‘Fancy a coffee?’ ‘Oh, go on then.’
Work from Home Essential No.2: Home Sweet Home
Feb 26th
Well, it’s pretty obvious that in order to work from home, you need a home to work from, but what I have discovered recently is that it’s vital to have a home you like and feel comfortable in.
I’d never given it any thought before, having been in the fortunate position of always enjoying the various houses we’ve lived in, but then last summer we sold up in Cornwall to return to Somerset. We had just one day to find a house to rent and so took the best available on that day. It was small, but being of minimalist disposition, we decided it would be good for the soul to have a thorough clearing out so we would fit in.
We were determined it would work – after all, another house move was the last thing we wanted – but it became increasingly obvious that it wasn’t working, not at all. It was the first time I haven’t wanted to get up in the morning because I couldn’t face going downstairs to the dark, cramped ground floor. Or deliberately tried to stay out as long as possible because I didn’t want to go ‘home’.
As the end of our six month contract drew closer, we realised there was no alternative but to look for another place, despite our dread of the upheaval and hard work of another move so soon. We found a lovely, spacious, light house very quickly, and have felt much happier ever since we moved in. Everything is so much easier when you are comfortable in your surroundings.
Work from Home Essential No.1 – Warm Feet
Feb 14th
Do you spend long periods sitting at a workbench or desk, getting more and more chilled? I’ve tried all sorts of solutions over the last few winters – thermal socks, scarves, wrapping myself in a blanket, body warmers, gloves, and sometimes all of the above at once – but nothing was really that effective.
But this year I have discovered sheepskin boots
Even during the recent snowfalls, my feet have been toasty all day, whether I am sitting at the computer or standing on the ceramic tiles in the kitchen. And warm feet for this homeworker mean warm body, warmer hands, and a much nicer disposition. I still wouldn’t dream of wearing them out of the house, but as homeworking attire they are lifechanging.
