Remote work’s perseverance during the pandemic has forced all of us into working from our homes. It was a transition that not everyone was ready to take, nor knew how to get around. Because of remote work, the line between a space of work and rest has become blurry. It’s especially true for people who work on laptops or other mobile devices. You might not notice it, but you’ve let your work invade the spaces in your house, which were supposed to be for leisure, sleep, or both. The blurred lines between these spaces can ruin your mood or take a toll on your productivity. So how do you combat this?
Well, like how there are specific outfits for specific events, the spaces in your home have to be intentional. You can do so by assigning each room or an area in a room a purpose and sticking to it. With that said, make sure that your workspace at home is in an optimal location, free from distractions and temptations that can derail you from getting work done every day. But just assigning a space for working is not enough. There are still so many things that you should consider to help you become the most productive version of yourself. Anchoring yourself down to a work desk specifically made for all your work needs is one of the best investments you can make. It can help you feel like a pro in the office and boost your mood and productivity. So without further ado, here’s how you can build your very own ultimate home office setup.
Location
As we mentioned above, choose a place where you want to set up your home office. Make sure it’s free from distractions, clutter, temptations, and other things that you feel can keep you from being your most productive self. So choose a place in your house where it’s most comfortable and quiet to ensure that you can maintain your focus throughout your working hours. Situate yourself where it’s not too hot or too cold, and make sure to consider how the sunlight affects your space so that you don’t have to deal with glare and getting fried.
Surface
The surface that you’ll use to get work done is one of the parts of your home office that you will interact with the most. So it only makes sense that you look for unique desks and choose one that is sturdy and suitable for your needs. Most people think that any table will be good enough. They think it’s okay to cheap out on it, but we beg to differ. A wobbly and cheap table can mess with your focus and concentration. And if it’s not sturdy enough, it can collapse and break your laptop or computer, which can be costly to replace. So make sure that you invest in a quality surface that’s strong enough to carry your weight when you lean on it and everything else you put on top of it.
Comfort
Sitting down for long periods can cause numerous health issues, like chronic back pain, chafing, and more. You can avoid these problems by investing in an ergonomic office chair that can offer the support that your body needs. However, not all ergonomic chairs are created equal. Make sure to avoid no-name ergonomic office chairs and get one from a reputable brand. Additionally, it would be best to visit your local ergonomic chair retailers to try the chair yourself. Doing so will ensure that you get a chair that fits your body and what it needs in terms of comfort, size, and support. There is still no replacing maintaining a healthy habit of standing up and moving around throughout the day to prevent chronic aches and pain. But an ergonomic chair can help lessen pressure on your body when you forget to do so.
Lighting
A lamp or a monitor light bar can help relieve and prevent your eyes from eye strain. When you only have a single light source in the dark, your eyes work harder since there’s a concentration of light in one source. Adding more lighting that helps diffuse light and spread it out more evenly can lessen the work your eyes have to do. It will make you feel less tired and help you work longer comfortably.
Drowning Out Noise
If you live in a noisy environment, there’s one office accessory that we know can help you drown out the noise. Noise-canceling headphones are excellent at keeping you focused and in the zone. They use microphones to take a sample of the noise around you then cancel it out so that you don’t hear it. It can help you concentrate on your work while playing your favorite tunes without worrying about the noise around you.
Final Thoughts
A proper home office workspace can do wonders in helping you stay focused and become your most productive self. But the best way to maintain good productivity every day is by setting clear boundaries between work and play. Knowing when to work and rest can help you maintain excellent productivity sustainably throughout the year. Only then will you truly achieve the ultimate home office setup.