Karen Mangia - Working From Home

Considering the 30 million‐plus unemployed workers right now as I write this, doesn't it make sense to make sure you're making a mark for yourself? Your home office isn't just a makeshift solution – it's a business tool of the utmost importance.

I wouldn't bring dishes, mixing bowls, whisks, and pans into my home office and try to cook something. It's easy to see that my office space isn't the right place for that. What is your home office space designed to do? Whether you're working in a dedicated room or just a repurposed corner of your apartment, you owe it to yourself to get clear on the right tools for the job.

And, getting back to those sweatpants for a second: there's one thing about them that we can all agree on. Comfort is really important. You can work from your laptop, sitting in a secondhand chair, hunched over like a bell ringer from Notre Dame, in dirty sweatpants, and still get the job done. Fair enough.

The right context for your success is a home office environment that's both comfortable and productive – a place where you can be at your best. What you wear is ultimately your business. But is your business set up in a way that truly serves you? How long do you want to wait to get into a home office environment that, unlike those baggy sweatpants, really fits you?

Your home office shouldn't be your bed, but it should be just as comfortable. Because you're spending a lot of time there, yes – but also because you deserve it. You deserve a space where you can make things happen – not where you're wondering if you'll ever get a moment of privacy. I'm not suggesting you need to wear a tuxedo or evening gown to your next team meeting. But working from home is about balance . Comfort and professionalism can coexist, in much the same way that a home can be a very effective office. Want to get the balance right?

Then ask yourself this question: Does your home office inspire you?

Looking in the direction of success means shaping your environment toward your goals. When considering your home office, your surroundings are an extension of your work, your life, and your career. And you've got to have a space that serves you.

At least, that's what I learned from Shakespeare's sister. Do you remember her? Her name was Judith.

She had the same aspirations and sense of adventure as her brother, William. She had similar gifts – in fact, she had as much or even more talent than her sibling. But he rose to fame while she vanished into obscurity, trapped by expectations instead of expanding into her true potential. Are you familiar with the story?

Of course, Judith was a fictitious creation of Virginia Woolf, invented in 1929 in her most famous essay, A Room of One's Own . Without a room of her own, Judith's life remained in the shadows, unable to fulfill her destiny.

Hopefully you're not afraid of Virginia Woolf?

While Judith was a fictional character, Woolf's point remains a hard reality: a room (or even just an area!) of one's own is critical to success. If your space is not inspiring – a separate place where you can do what needs to be done – how are you going to be successful in working from home? Beyond the tactical decisions about which laptop you need or what camera to buy, let's go upstream for a second. Let's look at the strategic decisions that go into a room (or space) of one's own.

Your home office needs to be a distinct, dedicated area. If you're trying to manage your career from your bed or your couch, you're not thinking about this the right way. Double duty is deadly; a dedicated space – even if it's a small one – is crucial.

Boundaries are the key to your success. As Robert Frost said, “good fences make good neighbors.” And fencing off an area for you to work – exclusively for work – is just good business. And trying to pull double duty in a space, or cut corners, can be disastrous – and painful.

Work is a guest in your home. It only shows up where it's invited. You control the invitation. If you don't want work creeping into your family time or your fun time, don't let it. A separate space (even a section of your space) is the first step. But don't stop there.

“Here's where it all started,” Kendra tells me, pointing behind her. She's a thirty‐something product manager living in a studio apartment in Manhattan. She leans forward and twists, so I can see the area in question: it's just above her left hip. Turns out, millennial back pain is actually a thing. Especially if you're confined to a cheap chair. “Not a good idea,” Kendra explains, elaborating on how she started working from home: sitting in a dining room chair for 9 to 12 hours a day. She saw the error of her ways. Kendra ends our call by pointing to the newest addition to her small space: a highboy leather office chair that looks like a pillow on wheels. “Now I'm all set,” she says, leaving her back pain behind her.

Some folks don't even require a chair. I know, because I'm one of them. In my home office, I have what's called a treadmill desk. Some might say I've decided to take a stand against sitting in a chair.

Here's why: it's been said that sitting is the new smoking. That's right. Sitting down all day seems harmless at first but it's actually bad for your health. Our bodies were designed for motion. Sit/stand desks allow you to get on your feet, aligning your body and getting your blood flowing in the way that even the most comfortable office chair never could. (For more cool tips on how to turn your office into a fat‐burning machine, my blog post [ http://successwithless.net/moving-body-mind] shows how to burn 800 calories and buzz through 300 emails at the same time.)

The treadmill desk looks exactly like it sounds: a simple treadmill – not nearly as big or elaborate as what you would see at the gym – sits in the corner of my home office. The treadmill is fairly small, but still gives enough room for a good stride. At the front, held up by two gray pillars, is an adjustable‐height desk. The desk is wraparound style: looking at it from above, it's shaped like a kidney bean. There's an indentation in the center (so I can walk comfortably and be close to my laptop). On either side, small wings hold notepads, a water bottle, and other office paraphernalia. The most important thing, right next to my laptop, is a small table lamp. Because, in my line of work, I need to be seen and heard – just like you do. The treadmill desk gives me quick access to tools, right at my fingertips – plus, I can still hit my Fitbit goals and get in those 10,000 steps per day.

I'm also a big fan of multitasking, so walking while I type this chapter is just how I roll. (But never rolling faster than 2 mph, because that's the maximum speed. Turns out that anything faster than a normal walking pace can cause a misstep. Believe me, losing your footing is a lot worse than a typo when you're on a treadmill.) On a video call or delivering a virtual keynote, my world is at a standstill – I don't walk. But I'm still standing, because that's how I feel most comfortable delivering the kind of work that I do.

And did you know that you can get going on a treadmill desk for as low as $400? Since the desk contributes positively to health and wellness, you can qualify to use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) for the purchase. When I got mine, I experienced increased productivity, increased movement, decreased anxiety … and a diminishing waistline.

I know that my choices may not be right for you, so don't read my experience or personal decisions as a prescription. I'm just describing the alternative that works best for me. So let me ask you: What's your alternative? What's going to make you feel productive and energized in your home office?