Working from home has seen a huge increase over the last few years; however, just because it has become more popular doesn’t mean that it doesn’t still present its challenges for some people, chiefly: how to set up a home office. Your home office set-up is incredibly important; it directly affects your productivity levels and comfort while working. If you are new to working from home, or if your home office simply needs a revamp read on for more information.
The Basics: A Desk & Chair
First things first, you need to get the basics right. Your home office will often be centered around your desk and chair. You should be prioritizing your comfort. Working from home often saves the workers money that would otherwise be spent on commuting or buying lunch, et cetera; you can choose to invest the money you would save back into your home office. When choosing a desk and chair, there are practical considerations to consider, such as the size and shape of the desk versus your space, the materials they are made out of and whether they will meet the general aesthetic and decorative tone of your home.
In addition to this, you also need to consider the type of desk and chair that you want or need. There are smaller desks like a bureau which can be put away after use. There are also standing or adjustable desks to consider, especially if you are concerned about your fitness levels while working from home. Finally, when choosing a chair, you should consider its ergonomics in order to ensure your comfort when working too. Branch Furniture has a huge range of desks, chairs and other office accessories, as well as great resources that go over how to develop a work-from-home schedule.
Choosing the Electronic Devices
The next thing to think about is your electronic set-up. Working from home often relies on having a solid Wi-Fi connection. After that, the specifics largely will depend on your job. Some jobs will provide you with the equipment that they want you to use, like a laptop which has all of the applications and programs needed to carry out the daily demands of the job. In other instances, you will be expected to use a laptop or computer that you already have. Again, it depends entirely on the specifics of the job.
Some jobs will require multiple screens, which means a laptop and a monitor. Depending on the job, you might also need a mobile phone, a landline or a headset if the job involves taking a lot of calls. Finally, you might want to put some thought into your internet provider and the package you pay for. It might be able to cope with the demands of personal use, but as you use it more for professional purposes, you could experience delays.
Light the Room Well
Depending on where your home office is in your home, it might not be near a window, which means you will need to consider alternative light sources. This is because working in low light can have a detrimental effect on your eyes and even cause headaches or migraines. Lamps are a great option; desk lamps are obviously designed with working from a desk in mind. You could also think about getting a lamp that mimics natural light to help reinforce your body’s circadian rhythm.
Ample Storage Room
The final element to consider is your storage needs; you might not need much storage at all, especially if your job exclusively takes place digitally. That being said, depending on how many things you need to store electronically, your laptop or computer could run out of room. This means you might want to think about getting an external hard drive or looking into a cloud-based storage system. Whatever you choose, you need to ensure that the data is kept secure and invulnerable – especially if you are storing personal data. However, if your job involves paperwork, then you might want to think about the storage solutions in your office. For example, if you choose to go for a bureau as a desk, then there are often storage solutions built in. On the other hand, if you have opted for a more traditional desk, then you might need to also think about purchasing a small filing cabinet.
In Summary
Working from home can save you a lot of time and money; for the most part, it is often far more flexible, too, allowing you to handle your other responsibilities too. However, without the right set-up, working from home can pose a challenge. When it comes to setting up your home office, the above points do tend to cover the main considerations when it comes to kitting out your office, so be sure to keep them in mind. Above all else, you should think about your own comfort; after all, you will be spending the entire workday in your office.
