Whether you're working from home for the foreseeable future or simply staying away due to illness and still need to communicate with your team, here are the best ways to create an effective and sustainable home office space and make a space work for you so that you can work best.
What do you require to work? A headset for taking phone calls? Is there a printer nearby to print important emails or documents? Do you have spare batteries or SD cards for filming and editing? Determine the functionality required to complete your job before you begin, so you don't find yourself halfway through a large project and realizing you can't finish it without the necessary equipment. When you're setting up your workspace, take some time to ask yourself, "Do I have everything I need?"
- Examine your internet connection.
In terms of internet use, your home is unlikely to have the vast capabilities that an office does. Working from home every day will put extra strain on your internet connection; it's worth performing a speed test early on in your working from home experience, as well as checking the bandwidth and general capabilities of your internet and provider. Is it necessary to upgrade to faster speeds? Avoid becoming increasingly frustrated with your internet connection while you're knee-deep in work by determining your internet requirements before you begin.
If you're running programs on a work computer that you now need to house and run on your home PC, Mac, or personal laptop, make sure you have full access to all the software you need to finish your job. Download, install, upgrade, and update all the programs you need – you might be surprised at what's out of date, so this is a great way to refresh your functions.
Create an office zone, whether it's a spare bedroom with an unused desk or a kitchen table corner. Whatever space and means you have, carve out an area for work that you are not sharing with anything or anyone else. It pays to do this at the beginning of your working from home experience because it will set you up for success in the future. By zoning in on one specific corner of your space, you're making the mental connection that when you're in that corner or space, you're at work; once you enter the space, sit down, and start tapping, you're locked in and in 'work mode.'
If all you have is a kitchen table, make the most of it. One corner is for working, another for eating; mark and map out your personal space and stick to it.
- Avoid using soft furnishings.
It's a wonderful thought to imagine yourself wrapped in a duvet in your bed, snuggled in pajamas on the comfy couch, cranking out emails or taking calls, but allow that thought to pass through your mind before moving on to a much better one.
Having a'soft' office will only serve as a distraction unless you have the willpower of someone who is constantly under pressure, which is not sustainable for anyone. Having a'soft' office is a bad idea because it takes away from the idea of creating an office within your home. Lounging around the house, in bed, on the couch, in a comfy armchair, and attempting to get work done will become confusing and blur the lines, so take pride in your appearance, shower, dress for work, and take your seat at your dedicated work station each day — you'll feel better for it.
Select a chair. Choose a chair that you're comfortable spending 8-10 hours a day in. Choose one that is compatible with your own body. Choose a chair that complements your desk or workspace and fits perfectly within the available space. Invest in this chair if you don't already have one. Of course, stand as much as possible throughout the day (sitting, according to health professionals, is the new smoking), and if you have the benefit of a standing table, you're already winning at working from home. However, if you're confined to a sitting desk for the majority of the day, think carefully about the chair you'll be using.
Working in an uncomfortable, heavy, unstable, or improper chair will have a negative impact on both your productivity and your mood in the long run. It may be fine for the first day or two, but issues may arise.
Your office desk at work may be spotlessly clean and organized, or it may be a little disorganized; your home office, on the other hand, does not have to be. This is your chance to design a custom workspace that will serve you exactly how you need it to, so make the space - no matter how big or small - work for you.
Recognize your needs and shape them into your space, whether you need a lot of space for drawings or equipment or just a small desk for a computer and a phone. Being cramped or surrounded by other things will impede your work and only serve as a distraction or a source of frustration later on, so try to make your new workspace as functional and clear-cut as possible. If in doubt, get rid of it.
Not everyone has multiple computers at home, and if your company has only provided you with a laptop, that's fine; a computer of some kind will be your most important aspect; the heart of your office.
Desktop computers have more screen size and space, so they are superior in terms of functionality; additionally, having your laptop on your lap or constantly looking down at it isn't good for your posture or concentration; instead, looking up at a screen set permanently at eye level on a desk or shelf is far better for you and office ergonomics.
- Monitors, mice, and keyboards
If you or someone you know has an extra monitor, it might be a good idea to borrow it for a second screen as well. If you only have a laptop, keep it in your designated "office desk" space rather than moving it around all the time. Investing in an external mouse rather than relying on your trackpad is a great way to stick to this. This is not only more ergonomic, but it also forces you to work from a flat, sturdy surface, such as a desk. It might even persuade you to buy an external keyboard...
