Whether you’re new to remote work or struggling with the WFH lifestyle as we practice social distancing, we at Dribbble are here to help. As a fully remote team, we’ve learned a lot over the years. We understand that everyone’s working style is different, and what works for one individual might not necessarily work for all of us. Our good friend and Overtime host Meg Lewis couldn’t have said it any better:
With this in mind, we think it’s also important to put an emphasis on mental health as we stay home and navigate this new reality. Today we’re sharing some Hygge-inspired tips to feel your best and make working from home a little more enjoyable. If you’re not familiar with Hygge, here’s a Wikipedia definition:
“A Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.”
Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Here are some ways you can bring Hygge into your own remote work life:
Row 1: Feitosa, Lauren Winters, Dmytro Novitskyi.
1. Enhance your desk space
One of the greatest luxuries of working from home is getting to create an environment that you enjoy being in. Start by personalizing your workspace so you feel good about spending most of your day there. Here are some ways you can enhance and decorate your desk with Hygge in mind:
- Declutter: Remember, a clean desk makes for a clear mind.
- Lighting: Use scented candles, salt lamps, or other mood lighting to set soothing vibes.
- Artwork: Now’s the time to shop small and purchase a print you love to hang up in your space.
- Plants: An overwhelming amount of studies have shown that houseplants can actually improve health and sharpen your focus.
- Photos: Decorate your space with photos of loved ones and memories to boost morale and help remind you of the important stuff.
” Being comfortable in my workspace lets me be more free and creative with my work and helps me explore more. I like having the freedom to manipulate my settings and space as I need to. — Sara Nicely, Designer & Illustrator
2. Bring the outdoors inside
If you’re lucky enough to have a private outdoor space like a balcony or backyard, that’s great. Take advantage of it by setting aside a few hours of Vitamin D time and take your mobile workspace outside. If you don’t have this private space at your disposal, there are still some creative ways to bring the outdoors inside:
- Invest in a sunlamp: These lamps emit ultraviolet rays as a substitute for sunlight.
- Put a nature video on in the background for beautiful scenery (YouTube & Netflix have plenty of them!)
- Play outdoor sounds on your speakers: Rain, beach, or city… whatever sounds suit your fancy.
- Order a woodwick candle (it mimics the sound of a campfire!) or play a Yule Log video with crackling fire sounds for the coziest of vibes.
3. Create rituals you look forward to
For the sake of our mental health and well-being, it’s so important that we create daily rituals to help us set boundaries between our personal time and the workday. As tempting as it is, resist the urge to start working straight away after waking up.
“When starting or ending your day, having a routine that you habitually keep to can help serve as a physical signal to your body that the workday is done, and help you shift your focus back to your life at home. — Chloe Oddlefeison, Dribbble’s Head of People Ops
These rituals will look different for everyone. It’s all about finding what works for you and what gets you into a happy, healthy mindset to start your workday. Here are a few Hygge-inspired rituals you can try before or after the workday:
- Ten minutes of sketching
- Taking a bath
- A guided meditation
- Reading a chapter of a book
- Preparing a meal
- Quality time with family (or your pets)
4. Practice self-care throughout the day
Take advantage of your remote lifestyle by practicing self-care habits you wouldn’t normally get to do at the office. Remember, self-care can mean many things—from moving your body, checking in with yourself, or getting some much-needed (virtual) face time with loved ones. Here are some ways you can practice self-care throughout your workday:
- Set an alarm every hour or two to get up and stretch
- Try a live-stream workout class
- Take a shower for a mid-day refresh
- Put on a face-mask or hair-mask while you work
- Listen to your favorite podcast or audiobook for mindless tasks
- Eat lunch away from your desk
- Stay connected: Have a virtual lunch date or coffee hour with a fellow isolated friend.
We hope these Hygge inspired tips make working from home a little more enjoyable for you during these uncertain times. Remember, your remote lifestyle will differ from others. Create an environment that makes you feel good and one that helps you produce your best work. All of these little things will add up to make a huge difference in your daily workday routine, keeping you both healthy and happy.
Related Articles:
- 3 factors to consider when setting up a remote workspace
- Top 5 challenges of remote work and how to overcome them
- 10 tips from team Dribbble for WFH success
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