Working from home is a godsend to many people. Being able to avoid the daily commute and recapturing those lost hours helps the work-life balance massively. Of course, it is easy to spend those extra hours working but for others, it can mean more time with family, or on hobbies, or simply watching TV.
Working from home though isn’t just lounging on the bed with a laptop, which is a bad working practice. There are some serious considerations when setting up your new home office. There is equipment to think of, how to layout your space, and other factors including your general health and routine. Here is an easy checklist to aid you in your new home working role.
Your workspace
First, before you do anything else you need to decide where you will be building your new work environment. You need an area that has enough space to work productively and has some natural light. Also, think about who you share your home with. You need somewhere that will have minimal distractions during your work hours.
To being make your checklist with these areas, feel free to add more as you see fit:
- Adjustable desk and chair
- 4 K screen
- Lighting
- Stationery, paper, and pens
- Extra storage
- Access to power points
- Wireless accessories
- Wifi options
Equipment
You want to feel comfortable at work and avoid strains and other posture-related aches and pains. The best way to do this is to look at your desk, chair, and general ergonomics. A good 4K screen is also a boon for a long session at a computer.
Your comfort is paramount and adjustable desks are a good choice. Consider buying a quality adjustable desk; this allows you to alter its height to accommodate your needs. Coupled with a good, purpose-built office chair that is also adjustable you will already be on the right path. An ergonomic mouse and keyboard can also help reduce wrist and hand problems.
Storage space
Firstly, you will want some physical storage space. Here you can keep any reference material, printouts, etc but also you want to be able to have stationery and pens easily available and not cluttering up your desk.
Then, of course, you need digital storage. Working from home may mean you are not storing directly to your company’s network and even if you are it may be wise to keep your own back-ups in case you have to work offline. The best digital storage options for you might include an external hard drive or using the cloud. It will depend on how many files you need to store and your own preferences.
Wireless options
Try to keep all the wiring down as much as possible. The less cluttered your workspace, the more effective you will be able to work. Although you can benefit from using wireless accessories you also need places to power your devices. This means having enough USB ports and power points available.
Access to the internet
If you are conducting any form of business at home you will want to be able to get on the net. High-speed access is essential but there will be times when you suffer from WiFi problems so have a backup available. You can use your smartphone as an emergency hot-spot so familiarise yourself with this.
Taking care of yourself
Now you have all your equipment and you are ready to start work don’t forget to look after yourself. You need to build a routine as close as possible to a regular working day. It is too easy to slide into bad habits and these are best avoided if you want to remain healthy and productive. Consider the following areas:
Exercise
You are probably aware that experts recommend regular workouts but you may not know how much you should exercise in a week. While you have a pile of work to do it would be easy to ignore this area of your well-being but stopping for some cardio will not only do you good in the long run but will likely help your work too as you will be more awake and alert.
Watch your snacking and meal times
Eat at regular times and avoid drinking too much coffee. Keep healthy snacks and fruit available to avoid munching on chocolate bars, and try to eat away from your workstation.
Proper lighting
Being stuck indoors, working during the winter months can be gloomy, to say the least. Try and make the most of natural light and if necessary look into the benefits of SAD lamps to avoid seasonal affective disorder.
Lastly, you need employment
Many people are working from home for their employers but you may actually be setting up on your own in which case you need to find yourself a remote job. There are many options and you need to look at your skills to see what is the most appropriate but with your new home office, you are ready to go.
Summary
Home working suits many people but for it to be effective you want to have the optimum layout with a good adjustable desk and chair, proper lighting, and room to move.
