Many employees are leaving the office to work from home. With work from home on the rise, many of us suddenly find ourselves needing to set up a home office. Some home office essentials can make the transition easier, as it can be difficult to remain focused while working remotely.
It is important to ensure your working space is geared towards productivity. You can make your office more structured by making small changes and incorporating certain items. Find out what work-from-home necessities you should invest in.
Create a Place Where You Can Work Uninterrupted
Before looking at home office items, you need to pick a location where you can work untroubled. You should set up home office gear in a separate room if possible. An unused bedroom or a guest bedroom is the ideal place since you can close the door.
A closed door is an indication to your family or roommates not to disturb you. Disruptions in your workday from kids, pets, significant others, and other individuals in your home can prolong your workday. While it is essential to take breaks, you should be in control of when those occur.
If you do not have an extra room, you can section off a portion of your living room, dining room, or bedroom. You can use a curtain or a room divider to create a makeshift office. Wherever you set up your office, make sure that it is not in the way of your home life, so you do not need to move your computer and other items at the end of each day.
Sit and Stand in Comfort
The best home office setup is a comfortable one. A comfortable office chair can make a world of difference when you are sitting for eight hours a day. Sitting in a kitchen, dining, or otherwise lousy chair may cause:
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain.
- Decreased concentration and fatigue.
- Increased body fat and weight gain.
- Digestive issues.
- Poor blood circulation.
Your office chair should have an adjustable backrest that follows the shape of your spine. When you sit, your feet should rest flat on the ground. If your seat is too high or your legs too short, get a footrest to compensate for the difference.
Likewise, a great addition to your work from home office is a standing desk. Sitting for long periods increases your risk for chronic physical and mental health problems. Some conditions linked to prolonged sitting include diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, anxiety, and depression.
You can find desks that transition between sitting and standing. Manual standing desks have hand cranks that let you adjust the height, while electronic standing desks adjust with a press of a button. Either type can be better than non-adjustable desks since you can set the height to match your body and needs.
Double Your Screens Not Your Vision
One of the work from home technology essentials is an additional screen. A second – or even third – screen makes it easier for you to use multiple programs. For instance, you can keep your workplace communication app open on one screen and while working off the other.
An additional monitor is especially beneficial if you work off a laptop. While a laptop is convenient for a remote work office setup, it can also cause neck and shoulder pain from looking down. Your body strains to hold your head at an unnatural tilt for an extended period.
Your screen should be at a height where your chin is level with the floor – not tilted up or down. If you do not have room for a second screen and work on a laptop, place it on a raiser and opt for a separate keyboard.
Similarly, consider getting blue-light glasses that filter the blue light digital screens omit. They can also protect your eyes from glare, and you may find that your eyes are less tired at the end of the day as well.
Shine Bright With Good Lighting
Your work from home office should have good lighting. There is a direct correlation between how bright a place is and how productive you are. In a dark room, you may tend to feel sleepy.
Adequate lighting can reduce eye fatigue and headaches caused by glare, shadows, and strain. Utilize as much natural light as you possibly can. If there are windows, make sure they are not blocked and try to keep the blinds open. Adding lamps can also help lighten up the room.
Conversely, lighting that is too bright can affect creativity and analytical thinking, according to the Journal of Environmental Psychology. You also do not want to create glare on your computer screen.
Set a Schedule and Set Alarms
Even if you have the best working from home setup, you should still walk away from it periodically. It can be all too easy to work for long periods and for too long into the day. One of the biggest problems from working from home is separating work and home time.
Set alarms and calendar reminders to tell you to stand up and move. Even with a standing desk, you should take breaks during the workday. Ideally, you should take 5 to 10 minutes each hour to stretch, walk around, or at least rest your eyes from staring at the screen.
You can also set alarms for specific tasks to keep you on track. Like chores and entertainment, distractions can be tempting while working from home, and setting reminders on your cell or computer can keep you focused.
Set your schedule of what needs to be done in your day, including your end time. Avoid doing work and looking at emails after you are done for the day.
Make Your Work Space Visually Appealing and Professional
Telecommunication technology has made it easier for you to stay in touch with your supervisors and coworkers. Applications like Zoom allow you to retain the face-to-face interaction you have in the office environment.
However, digital meetings mean your peers have a view into your home. Make sure your background looks professional by positioning your desk, so there is a wall behind you, closing closet doors, and hanging your degrees and certificates.
You can also buy a vinyl backdrop to pull down before meetings. They come in a variety of options and are easy to set up.
By Admin –
