If you've found yourself working at home for the first time, you're probably still figuring out how to get situated and motivated. How can you turn your favorite hangout spot into a place where you can take care of business for eight hours a day? Making significant improvements that can turn your home into a focus-friendly setting doesn't have to be complicated.
Working from home is a very different experience from working in an office. We ought to establish an environment where we can keep working without interruptions or discomfort using our employers' help, advice, and tools. Because so many of us now work from home, having a productive workstation that encourages creativity is more crucial than ever. Whether you have a large or small area to work with, you can turn your home workspace into an exciting work zone where you can develop game-changing ideas while also increasing your performance.
Factors
At home, achieving the ideal focus zone is dependent on several things, including:
- Your well-being
- Your state of mind
- Your nutrition
- Your sleep
- Your surroundings
- Exercise
- Distractions
- Your work's nature
While all of these variables are dynamic and change daily, some of them may be managed, particularly for your workstation.
Things You Can Do to Your Workspace
Declutter
Anything that isn't essential to your day-to-day routine should be recycled, given away, sold, or stored. Being enveloped by clutter can hurt your well-being and make achieving an optimal sitting position more challenging. Make zones on your workspace. The closer something is to you, the more frequently you use it.
Location, Location, Location
It's fantastic if you have a separate workplace with a desk. If you live alone and have access to a dining table or a coffee table, take advantage of it. If you don't have the privilege of a dedicated workstation or live with someone else, the next best thing is to set up a temporary workspace in an empty spot or along a small length of blank wall space. Also, you may get yourself this compact height-adjustable standing desk from FlexiSpot, the Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk. It comes in three tabletops which are the following:
- Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk Glass Top
- Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk Wooden Top
- Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk Bamboo Texture Top
Bathe in Natural Light
Even if you don't have enough space for a home office, you can make do with that nook of your family room, the stretch of your hall, or the area at the foot of your bed. For natural light, pick a workspace near a window or glass-paneled doors.
Upgrade Your Work Chair
While dining chairs are acceptable, they are not intended to be sat on for long durations. Get an ergonomic office chair with excellent lumbar support and a well-padded seat that swivels and has height-adjustable controls. We recommend the following ergonomic office chairs from FlexiSpot:
Soutien Ergonomic Office Chair
Ergonomic Office Mesh Chair 1500F 1W
Ergonomic Office Chair OC3B
If you don't have room for a new chair, at the very least, get a cushion. A memory foam mattress will provide you with all of the necessary comfort and support.
Go for LED Bulbs
It's crucial to let in natural light, but you also have to ensure your overhead lighting is up to par. Replace any burned-out bulbs with fresh ones to ensure that your space is well-lit. If you haven't already done so, switching to LED bulbs is an excellent idea. Choose something with dimming features if you have the opportunity to change the brightness as desired.
Get in the Zone with Headphones
Based on what you want and need, a set of headphones can range anywhere from $12 to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. However, even a standard set of headphones with a microphone that costs less than $50 is an excellent investment for remote work because it enhances how you sound to people at video conferences. Noise-canceling headphones, if you're willing to pay extra, can reduce ambient noise. Large, comfy over-ear headphones can give the impression of more privacy than you have while also allowing you to concentrate.
Designated Power Strip
Across the day, you'll be charging your phones, headphones, laptops, iPads, and any other gadget you own. Get a work-only power strip to keep stuff orderly and prevent overloading all of your outlets—and floor space. It makes keeping all of your tech tidy, powered, and within reach. You won't have to worry about tripping over wires or battling over an outlet with your housemate, partner, or family members.
Make it Personal
You may become bored, discouraged, and unmotivated if your work environment is devoid of color and décor. By bringing some individuality into the area, you may avoid the "clinical" look. This can be accomplished by adorning the wall with a few ornamental things that you enjoy looking at. For your pens, use a one-of-a-kind holder. You can also hang photos of your loved ones and pets or add a couple of plants.
Handy Cloth
Make sure your monitor and keyboard are free of dust, pet dander, and fingerprints. To wipe your display, keep a microfiber cloth on your desk or in a drawer with your accessories. Keep a secondary cloth on hand to wipe down the desk and keyboard; it doesn't have to be fancy. It's OK to use an old dishcloth or washcloth, or even a moistened paper towel that you replenish every day. If you have disinfectant wipes on hand, keeping a few in your home office area wouldn't hurt, as long as they're safe for the surfaces of your items to be wiped. Natural woods and lacquered surfaces should be avoided.
Sights and Scents
A few houseplants in your home workspace can make a significant difference. According to studies, closeness to nature, such as workplace plants and windows with views of outdoor sceneries, has a good influence on workers. Plants can help you be more productive and less stressed.
Place an inexpensive candle on your desk or a few drops of essential oil in a bowl of boiling water. Certain scents can make us feel calm (lavender) or invigorated (peppermint) (citrus). Even if you don't believe that aromas have any discernible effect on us, they can be enjoyable. It's an excellent addition to your home workspace if a deep breath of eucalyptus or rosemary makes you feel good.
Many people are unsure how long their remote work situations will remain as a result of the pandemic. Therefore, they are uncertain how much effort, time, and money they should invest in establishing a comfortable workstation at home. You can find all kinds of fun, unique, and practical items for your home office. However, before you become too committed to it, try making a few basic and affordable improvements to your existing arrangement.