2020 brought a huge shift in the way we work and live when suddenly, overnight, employees all over the world moved from working in a dedicated office space with desks, colleagues and coffee machines, to working from their kitchen table or bedroom. It was a change no one saw coming and although many workers may have loved the option of doing home office from time to time, the unexpected and overnight move caught many of us by surprise. The need to rapidly adapt meant that a lot of employees set up a temporary, makeshift workspace that was perhaps less comfortable and ergonomically friendly than is ideal. There are lots of ways to create a workspace that works for you and by implementing a few tips and ideas, you can upgrade your existing home office to help boost focus and comfort.
Getting the Essentials Right
Now, almost a year into the working from home situation, some workers may have invested in a proper workspace and purchased a desk, office chair, monitor or other such essentials. Likewise, many employers may have started to provide these items as the situation changed from temporary to seemingly more long term. As we spend so much time at our laptops these days (and even more so in lockdown it appears), creating a comfortable space where you can focus is crucial. This can be achieved without investing too much of your own hard earned cash, if your employer is unable to provide equipment.
For starters, make sure you use the most comfortable table and chair for your height, even if that means using the kitchen table and a dining chair. Adapt them so they fit your frame by using a cushion or perhaps books stacked below your laptop. Try to position your screen directly ahead of your eyes to reduce strain on your neck and shoulder. A laptop riser can be picked up relatively cheaply and can make a great addition to any workspace. Other items for a comfortable home office include the following…
Desk – choose a desk with shelves or drawers for extra storage. A desk drawer is the perfect place to hide your laptop away after a long day at the office.
Office chair – a standard, height adjustable desk chair with good back support can be a game changer in the home office. If you are going to invest in one item for working from home, let it be a desk chair.
Printer – depending on your job, having a printer to hand can be very helpful for printing out reports or articles or you can look into printing franchise opportunities to establish a bright future.
Monitor – again, depending on your job a separate monitor or two helps keep your desktop organised
Desk organisers – keep your pens and pencils tidy and to hand with some desk organisers. Ikea have some excellent options available.
Pilates cushion or back support cushion – if you suffer from back pain, a pilates cushion or cushion will help keep some movement in your back and spine throughout the day and will help ease aches and pains
Footrest – similarly a footrest will help with posture and can be effective in reducing pains from sitting all day.
If needed, and rather than investing in all new office items for your house, repair any old or out of use furniture such as tables, chairs or stools from around the house and give them a new lease of life in your office area. There are easy ways to fix many household items and furniture. Glue is a quick and reliable method for repairing items around the home, just be sure to choose the right one from different adhesive types.
Functional Space
One way to get the most out of your home is to reclaim unused space. If you are lucky enough to have an unused corner or area in your house, it may be the best place to set up a workspace, especially if it is near a window with plenty of natural light flowing in. If you, like most city dwellers, do not have even a square inch to spare, try to ensure that you place your work laptop and items out of sight in the evenings and weekends. Out of sight, out of mind. Putting your work items away in a drawer or basket can help with the divide between work time and relaxation time. Likewise, keeping your workspace separate from leisure space can help the mind switch off when evening rolls around. Avoid using your laptop on the sofa or bed and keep those areas free for down time.
A lot of people love working from home and prefer it to office life, while some miss the structure, routine and social aspect of working in an office. Overall, finding ways to keep your home workspace comfortable and clutter-free can be conducive to a more efficient working day. Additionally, it can help keep work life somewhat separate from personal life and ensure that your workspace is a pleasant place to work from.
