WIN WITH WELLNESS

By Jenna Nel

Ahh, 8 am…the time to change from your night PJs into your day PJs. Working from home certainly has its perks - lunch is at 9 am, Zoom meetings only last 40 minutes before they’re automatically ended, and you suddenly get along with your coworkers much better.

When cultivated correctly, your home office can be a sanctuary of quiet (or you can blast loud music; no judgement) and a healthy habitat that caters to both your needs and those of our planet.

Spruce up your office space with these top tips for living and working well at home…

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle It’s easy to forget about all the little bits and pieces we waste when we’re working away in the comfort of our exclusive office space. That sticky note propelled at the bin, the paper towels to clean up the coffee spills, the dozen or so pens used once then left to dry out…

Here are five easy changes you can make:

• Ditch the sticky notes and put up a whiteboard • Set up recycle bins nearby • Compost organic waste • Use one pen at a time If you’re not quite ready to let go of your printer, consider using it in the most eco-friendly way possible:

• Recycle your ink cartridges (or buy remanufactured ones… they’re also cheaper!) • Buy refillable ink cartridges • Print double-sided • Reset the margins on the documents you’re printing • Use the ‘fast’ or ‘draft’ settings when you print…this uses far less ink! • Avoid colour printing, as this uses much more ink Here are some pretty additions to cheer up your cubicle:

• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) • Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis) • Umbrella Plant (Schefflera spp.) • Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) • Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Cut the Paper Paper is one of the chief ecoantagonists of the workplace, to such an extent that it has to have its very own segment. In so far as possible, try to conserve energy, paper and damage to the environment by going paperless. Ditch the printer with its unrecycled ink cartridges and switch to the digital domain.

Work with Green People No, I’m not talking about aliens… I’m merely suggesting that you might want to partner up with more like-minded co-workers! Brands, companies and individuals who share your desire to create workspaces that are conscious of the effect they are having on the environment. Use the opportunity to support and learn from each other. Office Plants These little green machines have the power to boost oxygen levels in your space and reduce carbon dioxide and formaldehyde. While your little office space may not have an abundance of natural light, many species flourish in environments low on light.

Don’t forget to check if your fun new flora is friendly to your pets!

Secondhand is Sustainable

Much like its ugly step-sister ‘fast fashion’, ‘fast furniture’ is causing untold damage to our natural world. We consume and discard with no regard for our ever-increasing carbon footprint. Not only are our office trappings largely made of hazardous materials, but they are also being produced overseas and shipped in bulk to our shores. You can help reduce this catastrophe by exploring thrift stores to find the hidden treasure that could be your next favourite desk!