Working from home has been around for a while but the introduction of hybrid and fully remote work due to the pandemic has brought the reinvented concept to a whole new level.
Everyone who is fortunate enough to have the privilege of choosing where they would prefer to work can now do so… almost anywhere, even sometimes at the kitchen table!
Considering that most who have this blessing opt for working from home, you might be thinking of designing your home office.
It entails a whole host of design factors: comfort, privacy, peace, noise levels, adequate lighting and more, all encompassed in what is now the new normal. When I first started working from home, I started at the kitchen table! It was a while before we could save up and design a new office!
Find the Best Location for Your Office Setup
The first step is to identify a space within your home that would serve as a dedicated work space, ideally a room used for working only to help delineate personal and professional spaces, or if that’s not possible, a quiet corner that’s isolated from daily household disturbances. Lighting is extremely important as well. Natural light is more favorable for one’s well-being due to its proven effect on mood and vitality.
An ideal position for the desk is in the area where indirect natural light is available to minimize glare and enhance the ambience of a work space.
If I had that blind open, you would see a huge glare on a sunny day!
Check out the featured article: How to Design a Home Office in a Small Space!
Choose the Right Furniture and Equipment
Splurge on a good office chair with lumbar support and height and tilt adjustments, avoiding back-strain and other injury.
Also, monitor placement is important: it should be roughly an arm’s length away and the centre of the screen at, or just below, eye level to prevent neck and eye strain. If you use dual monitors, try to angle them towards yourself in a way that minimises neck movement and maximises ease of viewing. I love working with triple monitors! It certainly beats working from home in our very first house!
Privacy is of utmost importance, especially in a home office, so place yourself in an area of low traffic, meaning no noisy byways or entrances.If possible, work in a room on your own and mark out your own territory by means of partitions, divider panels or simply by positioning furniture to limit sightlines.Likewise, privacy and security extend to your digital and physical spaces. Keep your passwords and private files password-protected and stored securely away from prying eyes; respecting these limits keeps your work professional.
Enhance Your Setup with Ergonomic Accessories
Think of peripherals too, such as a specially designed ergonomic keyboard and mouse that reduces strain on your wrists and arms. This can make a real difference if your job often involves typing or navigating on a computer. Equally, any job that involves using a phone for prolonged periods can benefit from a noise-cancelling headset. Not only will it reduce the neck strain from holding a phone to your ear, but it will also improve call quality, as ambient noise is cancelled.
Maximizing Productivity in Your Home Office
You can improve your productivity by investing in technology and tools that help you in your work. It is imperative to have high-speed internet as an essential part of remote work because it allows people to communicate more easily and seamlessly, as well as resolve tasks. In addition, there are also instant tools, such as Wifi hotspots or blue-light glasses that protect your eyes against the harmful effects of exposure to a computer screen for a long time.
Combined with some smart planning (convenient power sources, sit-stand arrangement, and shared office supportive equipment), the physical set-up will ensure that your digs are tidy, uncluttered, and designed to encourage hygiene. Second, remember to make use of all available vertical space for storage, not just in cabinets but on the walls too. Trellises and hanging baskets can be invaluable for those who work in small spaces Third, personalise. If plants or artworks support your wholeness and bring you joy, it’s a simple investment toward promoting your wellbeing and morale. Fourth (and most importantly), think about the mementos you might be neglecting now that you’re working from home.
Use these tips to cultivate a home office environment that works best for you, allowing you to enjoy a professional work experience with improved productivity and wellbeing. In essence, your success with remote work will hinge upon how well you can simulate a conducive work environment in your home.
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