Considering the global events in recent years, working from home has become a very common phenomenon in many households. There are a lot of advantages to be had with working from home. However, to keep the efficiency and progress that one would have in an office, you need to set up a proper work environment first.
There are several ways you can set up a functioning and comfortable office in your home that won’t disrupt the workflow or your productivity. Once you’ve nailed down your perfect office environment, you can start working from home as comfortably and productively as you would in any office.
Seating
In case you’ve never known what it feels like to work while sitting on an uncomfortable chair, then you should know that it’s not only bad for productivity but more important for your health. Uncomfortable seating is known to lead to many health conditions stemming from back problems all the way to posture.
Do yourself a favor and pick out the seating that’s right for you. Everyone has a different seating posture, physique, and preferences, so what works for your friend may not work for you. It’s generally recommended to find seating that props up your back to 90 degrees. Same with your thighs and legs. This is ideally the most optimal way to sit, however, your preferences may be different.
If possible, find an office chair, which is meant to be sat on for long periods of time. Also, make sure that the seating does not prop you up too high above the desk, as you definitely don’t want to be slouched over your work for a long time. This is known to lead to many back problems and makes it much harder to concentrate on your work.
Signal Strength
Signal strength, be it internet or phone, is crucial when it comes to working from a home office. In any normal office, internet strength and phone signal are ideally kept at the highest possible quality to ensure that workers have no trouble connecting to clients and associates that may be working on the other side of the globe.
At home, you have not had such a privilege as you mostly use the internet and phone for recreational or personal matters. Ask your internet provider if they have any options for faster internet speeds. As for your phone connection, if you always have problems connecting with people on the other end of the line, buy a mobile signal booster to improve your signal strength.
This way you always stay connected and never lose out on any important calls or meetings. The last thing you want is to be in an important meeting only to lose connection with whoever it is you are speaking with and miss out on something super important.
As for the internet connection, it has to be absolutely stable in order to keep your workflow stable as well. Without a fast internet connection, you’ll be doing a lot more waiting and a lot less work. This will have a significant negative impact on your workflow and will impact your deadlines.
So do yourself a favor and get a fast and stable internet connection to make sure that nothing is disrupted during your working hours. Add to that a stable phone connection and you have yourself all the utilities you need to get your work done.
Lighting
Working in a dim environment is not only uncomfortable but also bad for your eyesight. Looking at a screen for too long then turning your gaze to a dark and dim interior can have a negative impact on your health.
So, to avoid any complications in your workflow and any health risks, make sure you have enough light in your home office. This way you can stay focused for long periods of time without it having a negative impact on your eyesight.
It is generally advised to have some sort of focused light in your work area, which can be a lamp or overhead lighting. Have the focused light be pointed exactly towards your workstation, but you should also have some accent lights on the side. This is for the general brightness of the room and to ensure that the area surrounding your workstation is not too dark.
By putting a little extra thought into the lighting, you can create the optimal workstation that does not negatively impact your health or workflow. It is a fundamental step in creating a home office and once you get the lighting right, you will see how much more comfortable it is to work from home.
Image: pinterest.com
