Top 100 Tips for working at home

Best Universities, a website that looks at the best American, online universities has just published their '100 All-Time Best Productivity Tips for Working & Learning from Home' This really is a comprehensive list covering all those things that will help to make your day more productive and the use of your time more efficient. The tips are useful for home workers but also for people who study from home. It is all to easy to get stuck in a rut where your routine does not facilitate effective working. Perhaps you have aches and pains, are feeling depressed or just don't seem to be getting much done? The top 100 tips will be useful for you. I have summarised the sections as featured in the article, below:

• Consider your office space. This covers things like the type of computer you use, having a separate phone for work calls and creating a 'cheerful' environment.

• Consider your working habits. Do you always get dressed before starting work, do you eat breakfast?

• Consider time management. This looks at keeping regular hours, taking breaks and setting personal deadlines.

• Consider organisation. Lists, calendars and files can all make your life easier.

• Consider happiness. Ensure you get fresh air, build relationships and listen to music if it supports your creativity.

• Consider workflow. Find ways to prioritise make technology work for you and create action plans.

• Consider your health. Look after your eyes and take screen breaks, drink lots of water and stay active.

You can read the full list of 100 tips over at the Best Universities blog. Why not leave a comment below if you have a tip that hasn't been covered. Or perhaps let us know what your number 1 tip for productivity is.

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I have often seen people using mugs as pen pots, so perhaps charging £23 for this item is unjustified. Yet I must admit, there is something oddly intriguing about it. In fact, I can even tell you what I would put where... some coloured paperclips in the smallest cup, rubber bands and a ball of blue tack in the medium pot, and all my pens and pencils in the tall cup.

Don't submit to boring, plastic, office accessories when there are far more aesthetic alternatives. Even if this is not your 'cup of tea' (chuckle) don't rule out porcelain, perspex and other more stylish and design savvy materials. So perhaps you are wondering what I keep my pens in? At home I have a wooden cutlery pot from IKEA which serves the purpose perfectly, at the office I used an upturned candle box which was white with a floral graphic design. The box also still smelled like grapefruit, as the candle was scented and made me smile every time I reached for a pen.

Think outside the box and use objects that look how you want them to look, and fit the purpose required. That does not mean you have to choose something that is labelled, for example, a 'pen pot'. Mugs have been doing a perfectly good job of imitating a pen pot for years.

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Are workplaces to blame for bad posture?

(image: joshuahoffmanphoto)

New research released this month by the British Chiropractic Association shows that, in just two years, the incidence of bad posture appears to have risen at an alarming rate. Over half (56%) of the UK population currently believe they have a bad posture, compared to 38% in 2007, demonstrating a dramatic increase. It seems that slouching is really sweeping the nation.

The BCA is urging the nation to take proactive steps to improve its posture, as the UK back pain figures have reached an all time high. 72% of Brits questioned said they had suffered from back pain at some point, while nearly a third of the population is currently suffering, with London having the highest numbers of back pain sufferers.

And it seems resting on our laurels could be to blame. Using computers is a trigger for bad posture for many sufferers, and carrying heavy bags or lugging laptops affects people's stance just as much. I know that I slouch when sitting for long periods of time, and some people are regularly seated for 15 hours a day or more. This technology age is changing the way we spend our time, and employers are having to be increasingly aware of the health risks associated with this fact.

Tim Hutchful from the British Chiropractic Association comments: “Year on year our posture seems to be getting worse and back pain figures are rising, suggesting that the two go hand in hand. With the population in an apparent sedentary lifestyle spiral, we are fast becoming a nation of slouch potato, and it is taking a massive toll on our health.”

“Poor posture can have health implications and we want to work towards reducing the incidence of back pain. By making just a few lifestyle changes, people can help to improve their posture, take care of their spine and help themselves look and feel their best.”

The BCA has devised a simple three minute exercise routine called Straighten Up UK. This can be incorporated into our daily lives to help strengthen the spine and improve posture. The exercise routine is available to download from www.straightenupuk.org

Try it out next time you start to ache while sitting at your desk.

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65 year old Peter Zumthor from Switzerland has this week won the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The prize, worth $100,000, recognises the talent, vision and commitment of a living architect each year.

Zumthor runs a low key architectural practice with around 20 staff which he says allows him to take full ownership of his projects. Commercial notoriety is not what has driven him to his work, yet ironically, notoriety is what he now has with the acclaim of this award.

Thomas J Pritzker, chairman of the Hyatt Foundation noted that 'Zumthor's buildings have a strong, timeless presence. He has a rare talent of combining clear and rigorous thought with a truly poetic dimension, resulting in works that never cease to inspire'

The Kolumba Art Museum
(Image: tom$)

The jury mentioned the schools, chapels, apartment buildings, museums, art galleries and civic centers designed by Zumthor when considering the winner. In particular, the Kolumba Art Museum in Cologne, Germany, was commended. This contemporary space is formed from the remains of a bombed church, and marries layers of history with a modern architectural feel.

The formal prize giving ceremony is due to be held in Argentina on 29 May 2009. Former winners include IM Pei for the Louvre pyramid (1983) Norman Foster for the London Gherkin (1999) and Richard Rogers for the Pompidou Centre (2007) To find out more about the prize visit www.pritzkerprize.com

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1. A room with a view
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Natural light and a pleasant view are both great for motivation. Positioning a desk in a way which allows you to look out of the window will do wonders for your mood. Being able to open the windows and let the fresh air inside is another feature which has its benefits. Even in the heart of Brooklyn (as the office pictured is) a home-worker can find a sanctuary in a space that has more than just the Vista that comes with Microsoft.

2. Personality
(image: Fernanda Mancini)

Now I am not a lover of clutter, but having a few of your favourite things around you is important. Just as important is an evironment that reflects your own personality. This is something that you can't always control if you work in a corporate space. At home, you have flexibility to customise your space to fit how you work best. Art, photographs and a colour scheme that suit you are all there to make work less of a chore.

3. Storage

(Image: Josh and Melanie Rosenthal)

We all need space, but we also all have stuff. Ample storage is what makes a spacious and clean room possible. Built in storage is a not just a luxury, but more like a necessity for a fully functioning workspace at home. Being able to put away your paperwork at the end of the day means you can take back ownership of the space and use it for relaxing too.

Do you have a home office worth talking about? Send any images and descriptions to jenny@thestylepa.com

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New Look has appointed designers Caulder Moore for the refurbishment of the client-facing spaces within their new head office in central London. This will include the reception, staff areas, press showroom and range rooms homed on the ground and lower ground floors. The HQ occupies 5600m2 and is due to open in July.

From the sketch above, lime and turquoise will feature heavily. These hues are fresh and modern and being seen more and more in interior design. Colour blocking makes for a striking backdrop, but remains sleek and comfortable.

'We are aiming to integrate the brand's core values - confidence, impatience and fun - in an emotionally engaging, dynamic brand experience,' says Caulder Moore creative director Ian Caulder.

Caulder Moore have previously worked on New Look's Liverpool One store concept. Read more about that project here.

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A work in progress

Many thanks for your interest in Work Space Style. This blog is brand new and there will be many changes and additions in the coming weeks. Please follow me on Twitter to get updates on any developments. I look forward to welcoming you back with fresh and exciting content soon.

@The_Style_PA

In the meantime, why not check out one of my other, more established blogs:

www.thestylepa.com
www.thestylepaathome.com
www.thestylepaformen.com