In these unique and uncertain times, having a home office has become a new necessity. The trouble that many people find with having a home office is that it doesn’t necessarily feel like a solid working environment. If this rings true for you, know you can turn this around by making some key adjustments here and there to make a home office that’s conducive for your health, productivity, and overall well-being:
- Select a Dedicated Space
The first step in setting up a functional home office is designating a specific area for it in your home. While working at home is indeed the more comfortable setup, it also becomes much easier to just laze around the house. Whether it’s a spare room or a quiet corner in your home, finding a spot for your own dedicated workstation is a great way to separate work from play.Not to mention, if you’re living with family or friends, having some privacy can make all the difference for your productivity. Also, your own space will be especially crucial for virtual meetings or conference calls. Overall, a dedicated space will help you get into the zone when it’s time to start working while at home.2. Think About Color
Once you’ve secured a spot for your home, you should carefully consider what colors you’re going to incorporate. This is because certain colors can affect your mood and energy in their own way. In this regard, you can paint the walls of your home with relaxing hues like blue and green colors. This is a wonderful way to help curb any stress you might experience throughout the workday.And even if your own dedicated space isn’t an entire room, this doesn’t mean you can’t add more color to your work life. Instead of switching up the walls, you can add soft yet impactful touches of these shades with decorations like a painting or lamp, or even the color of your desk.
3. Invest in Yourself
Investing in a good home office setup is an investment in yourself. A great office space can do a world of good for your comfort, productivity, and overall well-being, especially since you’ll be likely spending 40 hours a week working at home. This is why following ergonomic principles is key. On that note, you should consider investing in a sturdy and adjustable desk, and a home office chair that allows you to sit back and reach your keyboard and mouse comfortably.This attention to quality should also extend to your tech devices. Whether you’re looking at laptops and desktop computers, or peripheral devices like ergonomic keyboards and additional monitors, it’s important to equip yourself with the tools you need to do your best. In this way, you’ll be able to settle into your home office with more ease. Plus, all these will help you maintain good posture throughout the day, and therefore perform to the best of your ability.
4. Surround Yourself with Plants
More than a just piece of decor, plants can actually provide a lot of value to your workspace. Bringing the outdoors inside your home office will not only help boost your concentration and productivity, but it can help decrease your stress levels as well. Moreover, researchers from NASA discovered that houseplants have the power to remove 87% air toxins in just 24 hours. From snake plants to a pretty aloe vera, adding indoor plants to your home office will help you breathe better — both literally and figuratively. Just be sure that they’re placed in an area that receives an ample amount of sunlight.While a home office might not feel as structured as your former office space at first, following these top tips and tricks will bring out your best in this new work setup.