- Keeping a clean, tidy, and comfortable spot to work is paramount if you want to do your best work.
- A reliable internet connection is very important when it comes to working from home.
- Surround yourself with nature to help calm stress and anxiety.
Working from home used to be optional, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made working from home more common than working in an office. Constant work from home, for the foreseeable future, no less, requires a more intentional setup than the occasional work-from-home stint. So how do you set up a home office that will keep you productive all day?
Reliable Internet
Having a good, reliable internet connection isn’t optional when you’re working from home. Being able to stay on top of emails and other communications from clients and colleagues, as well as accessing work files from cloud-based apps makes a high-speed internet of at least 50Mbps absolutely necessary.
Also consider bandwidth, as well as how many people will be using the internet. If you have virtual learners in your house you will have to take this into consideration when you figure out what speed you need. Thankfully, most areas that aren’t considered rural will be able to offer a good internet connection.
Bring In Some Nature
If you can choose the room you are working in, pick one with lots of natural light to help you be more productive. Another idea is to bring in more plants! Simply looking at green plants have many proven benefits, among them reducing stress and anxiety, so in addition to plenty of natural light, bring some plants into your space too.
Take Better Breaks
One of the more difficult things when working from home can be to take proper breaks. Don’t stay sitting at your desk on your break, scrolling through social media. Instead try going for a short walk, exercising, and walking away from your desk. Time your breaks, and write down the number of breaks in a day, and don’t allow yourself to go back to your desk until your break is over.
Keep It Tidy
A clean and tidy working space makes it easier to concentrate on work, there’s no doubt about it. But when your work space is inside your house, you may need to extend that clean and tidy model to the whole house. Even if you can shut the door on the mess it may not be enough for you to concentrate on work. While there’s no need to deep clean the house to get some work done, picking up the house the night before will help you be more productive in the morning.
Make It Safe
Most people who work at a desk are at risk for repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), so having a setup that is ergonomically sound is never a waste of time or money. Think about it, if you spend all your time in a less than ideal position you’re going to injure yourself, leading to lost productivity and income.
An adjustable desk is important to make sure you don’t injure your wrists from typing. When your desk is the right height, your forearms should be parallel to the ground, and you shouldn’t have to bend your wrists up or down when typing.
Also make sure to choose a monitor with good resolution and lighting to avoid eyestrain, you should be able to look at the monitor while keeping your shoulders level and without hunching your back. Look for a chair that has adjustable height, lumbar support, wheels, adjustable seat pan tilt, arm height and lateral arm position.
Think Through What You Really Need
When setting up your home office, it is essential to think through what are the most important things for the job you do. Most likely you’ll need a desk, a good chair, a laptop and an outlet to plug it into. These are the essentials, but your job may require other appliances as well, such as a printer or a shredder.
In Closing
Setting up a home office is essential if you want to get work done, but with these tips, the task should be easier than ever!