By Bella Barron
We now live in the work-from-home era. The office you worked in before shifting to a remote -working lifestyle was designed to include desks, offices, file-storage, and so on. There was no room for sleeping, playing with kids, ironing, and other domestic activities. Now that your working arrangements have changed, you may feel the need to create a cosy and inviting office in a family-like room. But it’s a room that wasn’t built to serve as a workplace. Some things may fall short regarding your comfort and productivity. It’s important to remember that the quality of your work is often associated with things like your passion for your activity, the existence or lack of deadlines, and most importantly how well you feel in your working environment. But we must add concepts that support the work-life balance concept into that mix.
That being said, it may be time for you to apply some conscious thought to optimising your working from home experience. It is likely to boost your productivity and your sense of well-being. But, what do you need to level up your sanctuary to foster more positive energy and focus, while reducing risks like musculoskeletal issues?
Work with good lighting
Adequate lighting is a game-changer, whether it’s a suspended bulb for physical work or your laptop’s display lighting. Just remember how much various types of light can contribute to different moods and atmospheres. Warm light is preferable when you want to lay back and relax on a lazy night, for it doesn’t energise or urge you to get up and do things. On the other hand, cold light is your ally if you need some energy boost and concentration. If you feel like dozing off on the desk and have switching lighting modes, just turn the light up on the coldest and most powerful level, and you’ll feel how your energy levels and focus power rise. And if you work with tiny tools like safety pins or postage stamps and need flawless precision in examining them, it’s best to opt for something that won’t strain your eye and back, like task lighting. Task lighting does exactly what it promises, namely concentrating on key workplaces – if positioned correctly. They can take the form of flexible wall-mounted fixtures, under-cabinet lighting, desk lamps, and so on.
Here are a few other varieties of lighting for your work time:
- Natural light is preferred if your house is positioned adequately and you have enough of it to not risk straining your eye or back.
- You can opt for LED light filters or fluorescent light to improve light and prevent users from squinting at their laptops’ screens and maintaining bad postures.
- Ambient lighting can brighten up the space without creating shadows, and it can be placed overhead with fixtures or on the walls.
- Decorative lighting, whether you choose desk lamps, pendant lights, or chandeliers, can make the room feel cosier. Though, this isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea.
- Adjustable lighting allows you to control brightness so that you can stay alert or relax your eyes, depending on your current needs.
Get adequate office furniture
One of the main reasons why sustainable companies invest in quality, ergonomically-designed furniture is to improve the mental and physical comfort of their employees. Without crafting the right environment for workers to carry out their tasks, productivity levels can drop tremendously. It’s only when the distractions around you don’t steal your focus and you sit in the correct position, surrounded by the right light, that you can hit new productivity zeniths. You can have an abundance of quality and inviting office furniture by supplying from a reliable provider, such as:
- Ergonomic stools and chairs with fixed or flexible armrests that can improve your position and comfort
- Small, medium, or large desks or height-adjustable ones that work ideally in flexible workplaces
- Sit-stand desks that permit you to work by standing up or down, being perfect if you forget about that ten-minute break for movement per hour
- Ergonomic desks with keyboard shelves, built-in drawers, lockers, and monitor arms for better support.
Image by Stephanie Berber on Unsplash
Declutter and keep it organised
Clutter can cloud your mind in ways you don’t even think of. Simply seeing piles of useless stuff or disorganised items you use once in a blue moon is the shortcut to dropping energy levels caused by a constant feeling of tightness and lack of space and air. Keeping a tidy workspace is essential for fostering productivity and decreasing stress, and maintaining it doesn’t have to be exhausting. Kick the journey by decluttering the desk and only leaving essentials within reach. The rest can go in your lockers or on trays and organisers, which are made for sorting supplies like pens and papers. With everything in its place, you’ll spend less time finding items that seem to have been teleported to Narnia or stumbling upon documents you’re not about to use anytime soon.
Establish a frequent organising and cleaning routine, and you’ll see how a few minutes dedicated to this chore can improve your mental clarity and productivity.
Add technology
In an ever-digitising world, leveraging good connectivity and technology is vital for an engaging home office setup. You can begin modestly by getting a high-speed router for a lightning-fast internet connection and a Wi-Fi extender if the modem is far from your computer’s setup. Afterwards, look for tools and gadgets that would improve your productivity by assessing the tasks that could be conducted more rapidly, should there be solutions within reach. Maybe you need an extra or external monitor if you tend to shift between thousands of open tabs or noise-cancelling headphones to cancel the noise made by neighbours.
On another note, technology can also take the form of software or subscriptions made to facilitate workings like yours. With AI revolutionising every industry, you may find an extension that streamlines your work. Or use cloud storage solutions to access documents more efficiently.
Conclusion
Working from home has become the new norm, and ever since the practice began gaining traction, businesses have had a lot on their plate to meet the rising demand for comfortable furniture, chairs, and so on – all while making them suitable for homes. Assess your alternatives wisely and with a long-term vision, and prioritise good posture and health even if you work from your cosy, self-personalised home.
