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It used to be that if you had a steady job, you were expected to commute into the office from 9-5 Monday through Friday. But everything changed when Covid-19 caught everyone by surprise and shut the world down.
Suddenly, employees realized they could get just as much done working from home. However, while remote work is wonderful, it can lack the authentic connections people can establish when they see each other in the office weekly.
Thus, the hybrid work environment was born. But how can you be the most productive when your work environment changes on a regular basis? These nine products can help you develop a solid morning routine, find ways to make any workspace comfortable, and prioritize your health; you can optimize your productivity no matter where your desk is.
Start Your Day Right
A solid morning routine can help keep you on track, whether you’re heading into the office for meetings or working from home. A healthy breakfast and a strong cup of coffee can help you settle in and tackle your to-do list.
1. Enjoy a Café Quality Cappuccino from Home With a Mueller Espresso Machine
There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh espresso in the morning. Pump yourself up for a day working out of your home office with a frothy cappuccino or rich Americano. Investing in a quality espresso machine allows you to craft all your favorite barista creations from the comfort of your kitchen.
Mueller’s espresso machine’s sleek and stylish design fits easily on your kitchen counter. It comes complete with a grinder, integrated milk frother, and cleaning accessories—literally everything you need to turn your kitchen into your favorite café.
Level up your lattes with signature syrups to create caramel macchiatos, mochas, and more. Working from home will be much more fun when you treat yourself to your favorite coffee to start your day.
2. Make a Hearty Breakfast On-the-Go With Orgain Protein Powder
A hearty breakfast is essential, whether you’re working from home or in the office. Fuel your day by using Orgain protein powder in your breakfast recipes. Choose from delicious flavors like chai latte, cookies and cream, or chocolate peanut butter.
Orgain has protein powder varieties that fit every dietary preference: grass-fed, plant-based, or keto. All include 10-30 grams of protein to help keep you full until your lunch break. Use your protein powder to make a quick smoothie before you run out the door.
On days you work from home, get creative with your protein powder. Try their recipes for Strawberries and Cream protein muffins or Horchata protein bites. Then when you head into the office, you can pack the leftovers for a protein-packed afternoon pick-me-up.
3. Check-In With Your Team Via Slack
When your work environment changes daily, you must use networking tools to keep your team on the same page. Slack allows for easy communication between team members and enables you to collaborate with clients.
Slack builds a space where employees can casually chat, create to-do lists, and keep each other accountable. On Slack, team members can create channels to effectively stay in sync on project goals no matter where they work from. Think of it like a virtual water cooler.
Wherever you start your day, taking a few minutes to check in with your team on Slack will set you up for success.
Create a Comfortable Workspace at Home
If you are spending multiple days a week working from your home office, take the time to create the ideal work environment. Create a dedicated workspace where you can sit for hours at a time so that you can celebrate your days at home and find ways to stay comfortable while you check off every item on your to-do list.
4. Stay Cool With a Window Air Conditioner From hOmeLabs
Temperature control is essential in creating a comfortable work environment. How are you supposed to stay focused if it’s hot and humid in your workspace? Install an energy-efficient window air conditioner from hOmeLabs to keep your home office fresh and cool.
hOmeLab’s window AC unit is wifi enabled, so you can conveniently control the temperature of your office from your phone. You have to head into the office for a morning meeting but plan to spend the afternoon working from home. You can easily set your air conditioner to cool your workspace on your commute back from the office.
Plus, hOmeLab’s air conditioner has a 56-decibel or lower noise level. You can focus on work and avoid the distraction of an outdated droning air conditioner.
5. Keep It Cozy in a Pair of Stretchy Joggers From Athleta
Hybrid and remote work has changed what most of us wear on a typical workday. You may have to pop into Zoom meetings, but chances are no one will see your pants. Don’t spend all day wearing an uncomfortable, tight waistband. Instead, create a cozy work-from-home look with joggers from Athleta.
Working from home doesn’t have to be all work. You can squeeze in a quick workout on your lunch break when you aren’t at the office since Athleta joggers are stretchy enough for your lunch break yoga flow. Stretch your muscles and connect your body and your mind. Return to your desk refreshed and ready to tackle the next item on your to-do list.
Being uncomfortable in stuffy work clothes is so 2019. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that you can get as much done in athleisure wear as you can in a suit—if not more. If your office has no strict dress code, you could even style these pants with a tailored shirt and loafers for a more business-casual look.
Streamline Your In-Office Schedule
Work with your team to decide which days make the most sense to spend in the office together. Only some people need to be in the office on the same days. Prioritize specific days for certain functions to get the most out of your office space.
6. Take Advantage of Eden Hot Desk Booking
Desk hoteling can be a fantastic way to optimize your office space. Eden’s intuitive desk booking software allows employees to reserve their desks when they need to be in the office. Save money by leasing a smaller office space by letting employees share desks rather than having multiple unoccupied daily.
Eden allows you to create office neighborhoods to encourage team building and productivity. Use the neighborhoods to designate which parts of the office-specific teams will work in. Set up one area for your IT team and another for marketing initiatives.
Curate a deeper sense of community in your workspace by allowing work acquaintances to choose desks near each other and establish strong personal connections. Employees can book the best desk for their needs using desk amenity filters. Plus, Eden is simple for employees and easily integrated with existing co-working apps like Slack or Teams.
Using desk metrics, keep track of which desks and co-working spaces are most popular. See what software and programs employees love and which ones they don’t seem to need. Eden’s software makes it easier than ever to make smart choices about setting up and using your space by presenting the analytics clearly and directly.
Prioritize a Healthy Lifestyle
No matter where you work, you must prioritize a healthy lifestyle to maximize productivity. That means feeding your body and mind to put your best foot forward whenever and wherever you clock in.
7. Boost Mental Capacity With a Fatty Acid Supplement From Fatty15
You need to maximize brain power to perform at your best. Even if you’re spending the day in your home office, you won’t be able to conquer your to-do list if you have to battle through fatigue.
Popular fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids that provide DHA, which is vital to maintaining healthy brain function. In older adults, low levels of DHA can show signs of memory loss and accelerated brain aging.
In addition to sustaining healthy brain function, fatty acids improve metabolic rate, support heart and liver health, and boost immunity. Unfortunately, our bodies don’t naturally produce these essential fatty acids. If you want omega-3s, you have to introduce them into your diet.
If you don’t want to pile your plate full of salmon every evening for dinner, a fish oil supplement comes in a tiny capsule and can be a fantastic replacement. But what if you’re allergic to seafood or shellfish? Also, fish oil tends to have an intense smell that many people find off-putting.
Fatty15 is a vegan-friendly substitute for fish oil capsules. Rather than filling their capsules with fish oil, they use an odorless powder made from C15. C15 is an odd-chain saturated fat that provides the same benefits of fish oil without the fishy flavor, according to Fatty15.
Whether at home or in the office, you want your brain to be working its best. Try adding Fatty15 to your daily routine. Say goodbye to brain fog and hello to better energy and productivity.
8. Heal Your Hormones With a Personalized Diet Plan From Allara Health
When you aren’t feeling your best, sitting down at your desk can be impossible, even if you’re working from the comfort of home. A hormonal imbalance could be to blame if you constantly feel run down. 1 in 3 women suffer from a chronic hormonal condition. Many are so used to their symptoms they don’t even realize something is wrong.
Allara Health has curated a community of OB-GYNs, nurse practitioners, and registered dieticians who specialize in women’s health and are dedicated to creating a personalized plan to get your hormonal health back on track. Even if you don’t yet have a diagnosis, board-certified experts will order the proper tests to find the root cause of your symptoms.
Unlike a traditional doctor, Allara’s personalized plans involve more than medication. They treat you as an entire person. They’ll help you adjust your lifestyle to balance your hormones rather than write a prescription. You’ll create a personalized meal plan with a registered PCOS dietician. Your care team will also suggest healthy habits like exercise and stress management to treat your body, spirit, and mind.
Allara Health takes most insurance plans, including AETNA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and more. If your employer doesn’t provide benefits, they have cost-effective cash plans. Working with a specialized hormone health team won’t break the bank. Balancing your hormones will have you feeling like your best self in no time, and work will feel like a breeze.
9. Subscribe to My Fit Foods for Perfectly Portioned Meals Every Day of the Week
Finding time to cook a healthy meal can be challenging on busy days. If you were in the office, you might not have the energy to labor over a hot stove to prepare dinner by the time you drive home. Even on days you work from home, cooking after a day full of Zoom meetings can feel like a chore. You must give your body the fuel it needs to perform well at work.
But picking up lunch with coworkers and ordering delivery for dinner isn’t the healthiest option. Plus, constantly eating out adds up fast. If you don’t enjoy cooking, meal prep can be tedious. Don’t waste your valuable time on Sunday prepping food for your entire week. Instead, subscribe to a fitness meal delivery service like My Fit Foods.
My Fit Foods allows you to build your box based on your health and fitness goals. They’ll send you weekly chef-prepared meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy delicious meals like Chicken Tikka Masala, Breakfast Tacos, or Lean Lemon Turkey.
Having healthy meals readily available allows you to free your mind from other things. You don’t have to worry about what’s for dinner or where you’ll go to grab lunch. Focus on the work that needs to be done and let My Fit Foods provide the brain fuel.
Make the Most of Every Day
Working hybrid doesn’t have to be stressful. When you develop a morning routine, establish a comfortable workspace, and take care of yourself, you can put your best foot forward wherever you clock in.
