How to Organize Your Home Office to Survive Remote Learning & Keep Your Sanity

Despite how much time most teachers, including myself, spend working at home, I never really set-up a true office space until remote learning hit in March. I mean, I had a desk, but I mostly just used it to pile stuff on. Instead, I used to sit on the couch, with my feet on the coffee table and my laptop burning my thighs, so I could watch some Netflix while I updated my grade book. About a week into remote learning, I realized not only did I have the aches and pains of an old lady, but I had absolutely no work-life separation at all. I felt like I was working from the minute I rolled out of bed until the minute I crawled back into it — and even then sometimes a late-night email would invade my sleep. Cue midnight panic attacks.

I decided I needed to create a space to work, so I had a space to leave when I finished working. I haven’t worked on the couch since, and it’s really helped me turn off work when I’m done for the day.

That being said, you need the right kind of workspace, or you’ll have a lot of the same problems you’d have without one. Here are my major tips for organizing a home office space for remote learning.

Make it pretty - or at least aesthetically pleasing

Even if you aren't a crazy classroom decorator like I am - you need to like your workspace.

I know, I know — decorating your home office is just one more thing you don’t have time to do, but it is so important to help keep your sanity. I promise. Try it. Yell at me later if don't like it.

Some of you are probably nesters like I am. I’m that person that spends a week setting up her classroom before school starts. Part of it is I want to have a welcoming environment when the kids show up, but more importantly, it also is the only thing I have complete control over. As someone with anxiety, especially about the start of the school year, nesting helps me feel in control and prepared for the unknown. So if remote learning has you feeling helpless, nesting and decorating your home office can actually help ease some of those feelings.

However, to each their own! You don’t have to do that with your own classroom or with your home office. However, you do need to like your home office. If you don't, it's going to make your school day spent there feel so much longer than it is.

Here's how I made my desk feel less like a prison.

First, put something purely decorative that you like on your desk. I know desk space is limited, but it will make your office space feel more welcoming. For me, I have a bit of an obsession with owls, so I use my decorative silver owl as a paperweight. For you, it could be a picture of your family, sports team memorabilia, or a smelly candle you love. Just something that's only purpose is to make you happy. Trust me.

In addition to my owl, a game-changer for me was including some sort of plants. I’m a big cactus and succulent person, but those plants like a lot more sunlight than my office space allows. On my desk, I have a small air plant to keep me company, and on occasion, I like to buy a super cheap bouquet from Aldi to brighten up my desk (their bouquets are only $3.99). Treat yo' self.

Both of these things just fight off the existential dread that seems inevitable during remote learning and give you something besides your computer screen to look at.

The Walls

Don't find yourself staring a blank wall and slowly descending into madness.

Three things have become essential to my office walls since remote learning started: my calendar, my to-do list, and a mirror. I DIY most of my apartment decorations (because I'm cheap and like crafts) and these were no exception. To make my calendar and to-do list, I used all Dollar Tree products and some craft supplies I had. For all three of these together, I think I spent less than $15-20, but you could realistically accomplish the same result for less than $10 if you wanted to.

For the calendar, I purchased an 11 x 14 frame and a 2020-2021 calendar. If you want to save a buck on the calendar, you could also print a calendar for this. Then, I spray painted the frame to match my desk because I didn’t like the original color, and I used some colored paper I had for the background.

For the to-do list, I used an 8 x 10 Dollar Tree frame and created the template using Google Drawings and some images I found online. I included “Top Priorities” and “Other Goals” because during remote learning I often found that I wasn’t finishing my massive to-do list each day. Creating two lists helped me make sure I got done what I absolutely had to get done that day. The “Important Times” section was the only way I remembered department or staff meetings (because dates and times mean nothing in quarantine). I also included “Today's Mantra” as a way to promote a positive attitude or create a daily focus — it was just another way to try to smile through the pandemic. Obviously, this could be customized to fit whatever you need from a to-do list.

For both the calendar and to-do list, I just use dry erase markers to write on the picture frame glass. It wipes off clean, and I can easily change or update them each day. So far I've had no problems with the cheap markers from the Dollar Tree, but if you're worried or just want a nice marker, buy Expo instead.

Lastly, the mirror was originally just a cheap Walmart dorm room mirror that I also spray painted to match my desk. Now, why do I need a mirror? Honestly, it just helps me make sure I’m presentable for Google Meets. It’s nice to be able to double-check myself before turning on the webcam. Additionally, it makes my office space feel larger. I live in a one-bedroom apartment, so my "office" is just a desk in a corner. Always go for the illusion of extra space.

You've Got This!

Doing these simple things really helped me get through the last three months of school this year. As teachers, we already struggle so much with balancing work and our personal lives; don’t let remote learning get you down this fall. Create separate spaces for your work and home life, and ultimately, work smarter - not harder.

Good luck out there. Stay home, and stay safe.