If you are one of the individuals that has been instructed to work from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This could be daunting at first but you will soon get used to it, it would be easier if you had a spare room available to turn into your office. However, it is entirely possible to work from home using your kitchen table or dining room table.
Space
The space you use to conduct your work is essential. Any space will do, it is important that you have enough room to think and complete tasks. You can work at the kitchen table but the important thing is that you clear it away at the end of the day. There needs to be a transition from work life to home life, if there isn’t then this can soon get you down. The last thing you want to be dealing with is mental health issues due to working from home.
If you are lucky enough to have extra space available within your home then you could create your very own office space. This means you can shut down your PC and close the door at the end of the day, not worrying about it until the next morning.
Furniture
It is important that you have the right furniture in your office while you are working. The wrong furniture can really hinder your productivity levels as it can cause pain and discomfort. You might be lucky enough to have your desk and chair from work if your employer is nice enough to lend them to you. If not you will need to invest in a desk that is perfect for sitting for long periods. If you find yourself shopping around for desks and chairs make sure you check out the reviews before purchasing, the last thing you want to end up with is backache. You need to have a chair that is adjustable, both in height and the backrest. Try to opt for ergonomic furniture when you are buying it, this is much better for your body and prevents problems such as RSI.
Equipment
The equipment you use for work is valuable and needs to be on top form at all times. If you have a laptop or internet connection that fails then you won’t be able to get much done in a short space of time, this can hinder your productivity levels and task management. If you have your PC from work then that’s great as everything you need will be on there. However, if that needs to stay in the office and you invest in a laptop then you will need to get everything on there including any apps you use for work. If you end up purchasing a second-hand laptop it will need to be wiped and everything restored to factory settings so you can use it without it being slow. In order to do this a simple internet search of CleanMyMac x will help you understand the steps to take to clear it.
If you haven’t worked from home before then you might not have a strong internet connection, especially if it hasn’t been used a lot before. You need to ensure your connection can cope with your workload and phone line if you have one. If not then you may need to ring your provider and explain the situation. They should be very understanding of this and offer you some guidance and advice. You might be able to switch to a faster, more powerful internet connection that will never falter when being used from nine to five.
Distractions
Something that can be a little different when working from home compared to working in an office is the distractions you face. This can be especially true if you have children or pets at home. In an office you only have other people posing as a distraction, the home can have lots of different noises coming from it. You could have the postman knocking or the delivery man ringing the doorbell at various stages throughout the day.
It is important to remember that if you have people at home with you that they are aware you are working and not to disturb you. If you have an office space set up within your home then you might like to have a sign on your door stating you are working.
We hope this gives you some useful help and guidance on how to set up your home office and keep productivity levels high. If you find yourself getting distracted then try taking a quick fifteen-minute break to recharge your brain.
How have you organized your home office to increase your productivity level? Let me know in the comments below!
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