Why a work from home buddy is important

May 10, 2022

Plants, pets and friends – here for you during your work from home 9 to 5 and beyond. 

Now that most businesses are operating fully remote or hybrid, it is not always easy or possible to have a partner to brainstorm new ideas, stay focused and keep you company. Beyond the office landscape, there are many benefits of having a work buddy including improving your work environment and boosting morale. In this blog, we discuss some alternative options and the importance of having a work from home buddy. 

Reset your home office with houseplants 

The responsibility of keeping a little desk plant alive may be off-putting to some. However, there are many low maintenance options such as Chamaedorea, the most resilient plant of all as it can survive environmental changes and even lack of water for a couple of weeks (if you’re the forgetful type). But what’s really the purpose of a houseplant?

It could be the aesthetic, the colour or just filling an empty space. But have you also considered the health benefits linked to having your plant buddy in your office space? Let’s start with a common ground which we’ve all likely to have experienced – stress.

Plants have a positive effect on our mental health. According to an article from TIME, looking at greenery and nature helps us feel calm and somewhat less anxious about that upcoming deadline we’ve been putting off. Did you know, that the average house plant produces 900 ml of oxygen/day or 27 litres of oxygen a month? Without meaning to get technical, oxygen is thought to affect the levels of serotonin released in the body, in turn, contributing to feelings of happiness and relaxation. So, breathing in the fresh air produced by your houseplant can help on those days when you may feel overwhelmed or simply screen fatigued. 

work from home

Lack of co-workers at home? How about ‘fur-workers’! 

Still not sold on the whole plant craze? How about the comfort of a furry companion? Of course, a pet shouldn’t be a novelty prize or gift as there is a significant responsibility to look after one. But rather should be considered as a new member of the family to love, cuddle and play with.

For those animal lovers out there, nothing tops a cosy cuddle from your best pal who’s been there for you come rain or shine. When working from home, it’s easy to stay in the exact location for hours and neglect physical activity and necessary breaks. Much like humans, pets thrive on routine. They like to go for their daily walks and spend quality time with their owners. Having a pet when working from home may be the encouragement you need to take some time away from your screen and breathe in air that isn’t tainted by the smell of the cold cup of coffee you forgot to drink. 

Tea, emails and friends 

Working from home can be quite an isolating experience. We may see our colleagues and clients in an occasional video conference call, but lack of face to face interaction can become lonely and challenging. Have you ever considered popping over to your friend’s place and working from home together? Perhaps you can make this arrangement with your friendship group once a week. Not only will this give you something to look forward to, but you can unleash your frustrations within a safe space and laugh about it afterwards. How about every time one of you says “let me just share my screen” or “you’re on mute”, someone has to make a round of tea for the table? 

We pass no judgement on those who name their plants or those who find comfort in their furry companions. Either way, you don’t have to go through your workday alone – there’s always someone or something out there to lend a helpful hand, paw or leaf. 

While a work from home buddy is important, taking necessary breaks from your screen is even more so. We’ve listed a few recommendations of how and when to take a well-deserved break during your workday. Read all about our tips and tricks here. If you’ve got any suggestions please share with us on LinkedIn!

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