4 Reasons Why Your Home Isn't Staying Warm in the Winter

Staying warm when the weather turns cold is a priority. Not only is heat a major comfort factor on chilly days, but a warm home is essential for good health. If your home is not adequately heated during the winter, find out why by investigating the following possibilities.

Doors and Windows

Inspect your home's doors and windows for signs of cold air entry. Not only will that make your house feel colder, but if cold air can get in, warm air can escape. Air currents moving in the wrong direction rob your living space of the warm temperature needed to keep everyone safe. Repair any of your home's broken window frames or door jambs. Replace worn or damaged weather strips around these areas. Keep the windows closed except for occasional fresh air.

Insulation

Older homes sometimes feel colder if there is not enough insulation in the walls. Some homes have little to no insulation. You may need to have additional insulation blown into the home's critical areas to maintain adequate heating and cooling temperatures as needed. Adding updated or more insulation to the attic helps to hold heat in a home as well.

HVAC

Have your HVAC system checked by experts every year or two to ensure the system is functioning correctly. Routine maintenance can find minor problems before they turn into big ones. As your furnace gets older, it may lose some of its ability to heat your home consistently and efficiently. Discuss a potential new furnace installation with a reliable HVAC company to be prepared to replace your furnace when it stops heating your home effectively.

Roof and Foundation

If your roof has been damaged by high winds or tree limbs, there may be slim openings that let in drafty air that you cannot see or feel. But cold air can circulate through your home insidiously to affect your indoor temperature and comfort. The same type of problem can develop in your basement or crawlspace. If your home's foundation blocks are deteriorating or shifting, leaving gaps that let in cold or damp air, your home may feel chillier than it should. Have these areas inspected for problems, and have them repaired quickly to improve your indoor warmth.

Don't let your home's heat be compromised by issues like these. Ensure these important elements are in good condition to keep your home safe and comfortable and to avoid losing valuable warm air in cold weather.

How to Set up a Remote Office at Home

Considering the recent trend of remote works, flexible timing for the employees is on the rise. Setting up a remote office at home is not just about establishing a cubicle or arranging a floor to window cabinet at any corner. For some, working from home means constant distraction, dealing with temptation and moods while handling the pressure of daily life. Office setup at home can be made easier and unique when you are thinking in a different way. 

Choose the right setup

You must know about the basics when setting up a home office in your room. These are:

• Ergonomically designed chairs and desks

• Desktop monitor holder 

• Tablet holder

• Cable guide and cable tray

• Strong WiFi connection

• Calendar setup

• Artwork, inspiring elements, etc.

Making the right adjustment according to the existing setup can be a bit challenging. In such cases, you can switch to some smart setups like Monitor arms, CPU holders, and others. These unique add-ons make the office-home space ergonomically befitting and keep it organized. 

Natural lighting

There are different types of devices and fancy lamps available in the market to deal with cross-eyed and bleary feelings while working. However, it is also important to prioritize the allowance of natural lighting. Even if the room space is limited, find any source that allows natural light. Natural lighting is inspirational for the employees who are working from home. Having natural lighting also saves your electric bill to some extent, 

Height-adjustable tables

It is known and quite devastating when it comes to the health consequences that arise from seating for a prolonged time when working. Height-adjustable tables allow you to work at any sitting posture. Some tables even match the height that is suitable for a person when standing. Make sure to get the best or matching tablet floor stand if you love working while standing. The most important thing is, the height of the table can be adjusted as per the requirement.

Establish your home-office that enables clear communication

Communication is very important when working from home. Naturally, there is an added layer of complexity when other employees are not sitting beside and working with you. Make sure to choose an area that allows setting up clear communication with the clients or other employees in a company. Setting up a strong WiFi connection is pivotal for home-offices if you want to work seamlessly. 

Comfy chair

Like height-adjustable tables, comfortable chairs in a home-office are also an important consideration. To suit the remote lifestyle, it is suggested to bring in comfortable chairs that suit the ergonomic style of other furniture pieces. Comfortable chairs with their cushiony surfaces are tempting and make the room aesthetically beautiful. 

The state of modern work allows us to introduce ample options of furniture and additions that make the space look smart as well as welcoming. Remote offices are common these days, especially when the world has been passing through a challenging time. With the best office set up at home, you can keep yourself as productive as you were in the office. 

How to Create a Home Office That Will Inspire Productivity

Working from home has many advantages. For one, workers save time, energy, and money since they don’t have to commute to and from work every day. Working parents also have more time to spend with their children now than ever before. Theoretically, working from home gives employees more personal time to do whatever they want to do, be it starting a new hobby, catching up on their favorite shows, or working toward their fitness goals. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. 

For people who are new to remote working, it can be a huge challenge to adapt to this different work setup. Moreover, working from home has its own set of drawbacks that need to be remedied before workers can return to their usual levels of productivity. If you’re struggling to stay productive while working from home, a conducive working environment may help improve your focus and efficiency. 

Below are five tips to create a home office that encourages productivity.

Designate a Dedicated Working Space

Find a place in your home to designate as your workspace. Whether it’s a portion of your kitchen table or a room in your house, you should have an area where you can work comfortably, without any distractions. Designating a dedicated workspace helps you create a boundary between office hours and personal time. When you’re in your home office, you only have to focus on work and nothing else. Having a dedicated workspace at home also allows you more privacy, boosts concentration, and gives the psychological effect of working in the office. 

Get Your Work Tools Set Up

You can’t work efficiently if you don’t have your complete set of work tools at hand. If you’re forced to work from home because of the current pandemic, ask your manager if you can take your work tools home. This way, you have everything you need to get the job done. For those who are unable to bring their tools from the office, the most important equipment you need to have is a quality computer with a stable internet connection.

Organize Your Desk

An organized desk or workstation encourages focus and peace of mind. That said, make sure to keep anything that may distract you away from your desk. These include nonwork-related gadgets and items, such as game consoles, televisions, and entertainment sets. Most importantly, organize your work tools neatly and systematically. Keep cables and wires out of sight, and place your tools at arm’s length so you can access them without having to stand or make big movements.

Let Natural Light In

Aside from boosting vitamin D production, natural light offers many benefits to the mind and body. Exposure to natural light also helps you sleep better and longer, and everyone knows how important sleep is to one’s mental acuity and overall well-being. One study at Cornell University also found that exposure to natural light helps reduce issues, such as blurred vision, eyestrain, and headache. Therefore, pull up to those blinds or ditch those drapes, and let natural light into your home office. 

Create an Ergonomic Workstation

If you’re going to be working from home for some time, you may as well invest in improving the ergonomics of your workstation. You can do the following improvements to make your workstation ergonomic:

• Use an adjustable chair with lower back support.

• Place your monitor and other displays at eye level.

• Make sure your lighting does not cause glare to your computer screen. 

• Situate your keyboard and mouse in such a way that will help you maintain a neutral position.

• Utilize ergonomic accessories, such as footrests, headsets, balance ball chairs, and wrist rests to help maintain a neutral position.

The Takeaway

Working from home can be tough, especially if you’ve never done it before. However, creating a conducive work environment at home can help reduce the challenges of this new work setup. From designating a dedicated working space to improving the ergonomics of your home office, these changes can make working from home much easier and help you stay focused and productive. 

What are your personal tips to stay productive while working from home? Share them with us in the comments section below.

Guest Post - How to Prepare Your Home for Inclement Weather

All kinds of challenges come with owning a home, and preparing for bad weather is one of them. Being ready for whatever’s to come can be one of the most important things you can do, both for your family and your house. Here’s how you can prepare your home for inclement weather, both inside and out.

1. Have Salt on Hand

Using salt to coat your driveways and walkways can ensure nothing freezes over and causes people to slip. Keep a bag in your garage or shed at all times so you don’t have to worry about running out and restocking.

2. Pull Out Your Snowblower

There are plenty of places that get several feet of snow at a time. Whether you’re expecting mere inches or a total coating, pulling the snowblower out and having easy access can make cleaning things off a much easier endeavor.

3. Disconnect Your Garage Door Opener

If you have people coming and going by way of the garage, it’s important to make sure the doors can withstand the elements. Disconnecting the opener from the garage door can ensure it doesn’t get opened during the storm accidentally.

4. Clean Your Gutters

Ensuring your gutters are cleaned out before a storm hits can make things much less likely to freeze or get stuck. Usually, it’s best to do this early in the season if possible. Each fall and spring, climb up there and remove all the leaves and debris that has accumulated since the last cleaning.

Prepping Your Home for a Storm

Storms can sometimes be scary. If you’re adequately prepared for the inclement weather ahead, you’ll have a much easier time cozying up and waiting for it to pass. You can ride the storm out with the peace of mind that you’ve taken every precaution needed to stay safe.

Author bio: Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated, where she offers advice on home renovation, maintenance, and organization.