Whether you like it or not, working from home is here to stay. With the world fighting to curb the spread of coronavirus, more and more offices are closing for the foreseeable future. Where does that leave employees? Creating a makeshift office overnight! Whether it’s transforming your kitchen into a boardroom or making an office out of your dining room table, working from home is the new norm.
If you’re struggling to feel as productive working from home, you’re not alone! Separating work and leisure can be tough, which is why it’s important to put together a work from home setup that helps you to feel like you’re actually in an office. Here are four ways to transform your home into the perfect office setup.
Separating your space
This is one of the most important aspects of creating an effective work from home space. Not having a dedicated space to work makes it much more difficult to focus, especially if you’re working from the same sofa spot where your nightly Netflix binge takes place!
Zoning your space, so that you have one room dedicated to your work and one dedicated to downtime, is the best way to stay focused while working at home. Blurring the boundaries is no good for our mental health, too, as it makes it more difficult to switch off when we need to. So, separating work and leisure is important for your mental health as well as your productivity. Why not try adding some notice boards to your designated office space to recreate the feeling of being in an office?
A good chair
This is such a simple one, but so important! If you’re planning on working from your sofa or even your bed, that’s just not going to cut the mustard. Not only does it look very unprofessional to have Zoom and Skype meetings from such a setup, but it’s also no good for your productivity. While dining chairs and home chairs are good for the short term, they’ll be damaging to your posture over a longer period.
Speak to your employers about the potential of sourcing a decent office chair. If that’s not possible, browse your options online. There are lots of affordable office chairs that are easy to assemble. But if you’re a bit of a DIY rookie, why not hire someone to assemble your flat pack furniture for you? You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference having a decent chair can make.
Strong internet connection
There’s nothing more frustrating than a poor internet connection while you’re trying to work, especially when working from home requires so many zoom calls and virtual meetings to stay connected with colleagues. It’s so important to ensure that you have a strong internet connection in your home. If your internet is only powerful in certain areas of your home, why not consider getting a wifi booster? It’s affordable, easy to install, and optimises your wifi so that the internet reaches every corner of your house – win, win.
Opt for optimal lighting
This is a big one, not only for your productivity but for your mental health too. Investing in a simple desk lamp with soft lighting is a great way to give your work environment that calm, relaxing feeling, removing any harsh light that decreases productivity. Natural light can also have a positive impact on your mental health, so don’t forget to crack open those windows and let the light shine in!
From flat-pack furniture assembly to interior design, connect with a House and Home expert on Bark. They’ll be able to transform your living space into the most productive of office environments. After all, working from home is now a thing, so let’s do it right.