Keep these 5 tips in mind when creating your home work space. Some of us may be surprised to suddenly transition from going to the office to working from home. Creating your home work space is an important part of the new normal.
One of the benefits of working from home is that you don’t have to scramble out the door and wade through traffic every morning just to get to work. There is a downside to this setup though. If you don’t have the proper environment for working, then you will greatly lower your productivity.
1. Pick the Right Spot
It is important that you have a stable Internet connection in your home work space. Choose an area in your home where you can get the strongest WiFi connection.
Ideally, your working space should be away from distractions. So if you need to close a door while working, do so. Or use a large piece of furniture to separate your work area from the rest of your living space.
Try to pick a spot near electrical outlets. Keep a dedicated power outlet for work use so you can plug in and charge your devices conveniently.
Finally, your home work space should also have a lot of natural light. Placing your work table near a window should be ideal for getting natural light as well as for receiving a strong WiFi signal. If this is not possible, then make sure to get yourself a desk lamp to provide adequate lighting while you work.
2. Prioritize Your Comfort
Invest in comfortable furniture when creating your home work space. You will be spending a lot of time in this space so comfortable furniture is very important.
Pick a sturdy desk with a smooth surface and at the right height when you are sitting. You should be able to comfortably rest your hands on the keyboard. This should help you prevent any wrist problems due to poor hand positioning.
Your work chair is also important. It should also be the right height for working. If you can’t get that ergonomic office chair for now; use pillows to add comfort and height. Use a thick, comfy pillow as cushion as well as to support your back while sitting.
3. Create a Storage System
Some of us still need to go to the office once in a while and bring home documents. Depending on your type of work, create a filing and storage system that helps you organize all your documents in your home work space. This will streamline your work flow and keep you productive.
You can repurpose a bedside table to store your files. Or use plastic bins with wheels so you can easily slide it under your table. Get yourself an In and Out box or folder container. Place it on your desk for easy access to the files you usually need for work. You need space to store your school supplies too such as pens, index cards, paper clips, etc.
Have a dedicated space in your storage system for your gadgets and devices. This is where you keep your chargers, USBs, external hard drives, extra batteries, and other accessories for your personal computer.
4. Invest in Helpful Accessories
The right accessories helps in keeping you productive in your home work space. They also ensure that you are comfortable while you work so you can work longer.
Invest in a good laptop or desktop stand to ensure that your monitor is at eye level. This prevents you from straining your neck and back while working. Get a separate bluetooth keyboard if necessary for a more comfortable typing position. Add a bluetooth mouse to complete your setup.
To prevent distractions, a good pair of ear phones or a headset is a good investment. An external hard drive is a must-have accessory if you are working with a lot of documents. Think of your work flow and what accessories you need to make working more convenient.
5. Create a Good Ambiance
Your home work space needs to have the right ambiance to ensure a productive work day. This can be done by adding decor and personal items that inspire good vibes whenever you see them.
Keep your work desk uncluttered by adding minimal decor. You can display your favorite picture in a frame. A flower vase, your favorite book, a small painting, a jar of scented candle or a scent infuser, an indoor plant are some of the things you can add to prettify your work space.
To enhance your work environment even more, create a music play list to help you focus while working. Try out different playlists to see which suits you best. Classical music, instrumental music, jazz and r&b music are just some of the playlists that you can try out.
We hope that these tips can help you work comfortably from home. Remember to take breaks and have fun once in a while to ensure that your work day is not too stressful.