Working from home seems to be the social norm for many of those who work on a computer. Some may run their own businesses from the comfort of their home and others work for a company at home. Whatever it is, you need to ensure your working environment is a comfortable workplace that can help you keep focused on the tasks at hand.
Since COVID-19, many people would’ve likely been ordered to work from home and, since then, have never returned to the office or only work in the office a certain number of days a week. So you have likely got the same setup as you did in lockdown: a laptop with just a desk and a basic chair. However, your workplace should be an area of comfort and a place where you want to work. Let’s take a look at some simple but very effective methods to upgrade your home office.
Chair
Something that you should’ve invested in a long time ago but never got around to is your chair. It needs to be a comfortable chair that you are capable of working on for 8 hours a day, five days a week. The cushioning needs to be top quality and the backrest must be tall enough to support your neck and back. Not to mention, it should be adjustable so your arms can be 90 degrees to your desk.
Lighting
Lighting is another important factor when it comes to your home office and if possible, ensure you get as much lighting as possible. Ideally, you need a window to the side of you so it isn’t directly behind your computer. The side will provide you with enough light throughout your working day.
Natural light will only get you through so much of the day, especially in winter. This is why you will need a good-quality desk lamp to go with it. Make sure it is a warm, soft yellow that isn’t too blinding and bonus points if you can dim the light to your comfort. If your office is in the garage, you will likely struggle with getting natural light. If you are willing to spend a bit of money, then consider removing bricks in the wall to create a window. You could also replace your garage door with a solid wall and then install a window there.
Spacious Desk
A spacious work environment is something that can make a massive difference in terms of productivity. A business work desk can cause some issues regarding being focused. For example, if you have a lot of letters and different documents that intrude on that clean space, it can make your head a little busy, which isn’t ideal when you need to focus.
There are numerous desk accessories that you can buy to help you stay organised. This includes a pen holder, letter trays, and even a set of drawers at the side of your desk. A monitor stand can also be good because you can place your monitor on top whilst storing things underneath.
Pin Board/ Whiteboard
If you have a busy job where you need to make a lot of reminders, a good way to provide yourself with plenty of reminders would be to get a pin board or whiteboard. During meetings, you can write everything down in your book, but once the meeting is over, you can write down the essential pieces of information and put them on your pin board/whiteboard.
To Conclude
As you can see, there are a few things that you should add to your office to help with that extra level of productivity and keep you focused on the task at hand. You have the essential items like a keyboard and mouse, but make sure these are ergonomic to ensure your physical health is also considered.
Picking the right office space is also essential. Avoid areas in your home that are really popular, such as a walkway or the living room/dining room. Instead, consider working in a conservatory or a spare room that you have. If you are working in the conservatory, maintain a comfortable temperature by getting conservatory insulation for it. Not only will this maintain a comfortable temperature but it will also help to reduce noise from outside as well.
