Even before the pandemic turned our lives upside down, remote working and telecommuting were witnessing a popularity surge. The COVID-19 pandemic has only paced up the transition. Now that millions of people are working from home, they need to set up a dedicated working spot to ensure their personal and professional lives don't intertwine. That's how you can be more focused and productive along with maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
In this article, we discuss the essentials of every home office and how you should go about it. Let's delve into the specifics.
1. Always Plan Your Workspace
While you should have a dedicated workspace, you also need to make sure that it works best for you. Keep in mind that you will be spending at least 6 to 8 hours in this environment so it needs to be calm, distraction-free, and engaging. This process is going to be different for different people but you can jot down the essentials that you need, to focus on your work. Some of the questions you may consider include the following:
- Do I need a dedicated room or any workspace will do?
- Should I set up my desk close to the window for natural light?
- What would be the ideal ambiance to go for?
- What type of workstation and chair should I get?
- What are the essentials that I need close to me while working?
The answers to these and other questions you might have will depend on numerous factors such as the nature of your work, the requirement to communicate with your coworkers on video calls, the presence of family members and children at home, and more. The perfect workspace plan will give you an environment where you feel comfortable, focused, and ready to work.
2. Office Desk and Chair – Go for Form and Function
Office furniture plays a huge role in terms of keeping you focused and productive. If the desk is at an awkward height or the chair wobbles, it will build up anxiety and frustration which will have a direct effect on your work. That is why you need to pay special attention to the desk and chair you will use. They don't only need to be aesthetically pleasing but functional as well.
- Workstation / Desk - It is recommended that you get a simple and minimalistic office desk that has enough room to set up your laptop and monitor. The desk shouldn't take up a lot of space in your room and should be at a comfortable height. If you are looking for healthier options that enable you to be more active and keep your posture correct, standing desks can be a great choice.
- Office Chair - This is where you will be sitting for hours, so you have to take a multitude of factors into consideration including materials, fabric, build quality, lumbar support, height adjustability, and more. It is suggested that you should try the chair you want to buy before making a purchase decision. You can also check out user reviews online to assess whether a certain chair will be a good choice in the long run.
3. Equipment and Devices - Don't Make Compromises
The third component that finally binds your work-from-home experience together is the equipment and devices you use. This is an area where you literally have thousands of choices so it is necessary to narrow down the products that will align with your requirements and expectations. It also helps to set up an overall budget so you can identify the combination of devices you will be able to purchase. Some of the most significant include:
- Laptop - For remote work, a laptop is a no-brainer. Modern laptops aren't just portable but highly powerful and deliver everything you are looking for in a computer. If need be, you can connect a laptop with an external monitor to get more out of it. Choose a device that features a sharp anti-glare screen, excellent keyboard and touchpad, enhanced thermal performance, and a decent webcam for video conferencing and meetings.
- Monitor - If you want to take your work from home experience to the next level, a large, high definition, and color-accurate monitor is what you need. Make sure that the one you are buying is supported by your laptop and delivers a pixel-perfect image. If you need a lot of screen to work with, you can also build a dual monitor setup to be highly productive.
- Keyboard / Mouse - Depending on your job, you might need to type a lot. For example, if you are a coder or a writer, you will be typing all day long. While laptop keyboards have come a long way, they still don't have that satisfying tactile feedback that dedicated keyboards feature. That's why investing in a standalone keyboard and mouse can help you get more done.
In case you are a manager or have to attend multiple video meetings every day, it is suggested that you get a dedicated mic and webcam for a superior experience. Bear in mind that every minor or trivial factor that you may overlook can contribute towards creating a comfortable and highly focused work environment. That's why it pays to pay attention to detail.
Final Word
Many people don't put a lot of thought into building a home office and that often results in a lack of focus and productivity. More often than not, it's the little details and trivial factors that rack up and end up creating a frustrating working environment. There are three key areas that you need to focus on when building your home office - work environment, furniture, and equipment and devices. If you get these right, your home office will turn out to be just perfect.
