Working from home. Back in 2019, if you asked the average office employee how they felt about working from home for the foreseeable future, they would probably have laughed in your face like ‘that will never happen; my boss hates the idea!
Fast forward to 2021, and working from home has become too entrenched in our working culture that many employees are never planning to go back to the office!
The Benefits Of Remote Work
Working remotely, that is, having the option of where you work from, has long been the dream for many employees for a variety of reasons.
Office politics is one of the biggest reasons that many employees would rather be at home, but other considerations like childcare factors and the cost of commuting make working from home a really attractive option for a lot of employees across the industrial landscape.
It’s not just a case of being ‘at home’ either. Remote working was enjoying a steady rise to fame even before the pandemic, with many digital nomads working from anywhere in the world that could provide an internet connection and a plug socket.
Your Work From Home Space
In 2021 though, it’s working from home that is taking center stage.
As everyone is still hunkering down to avoid the virus and to protect others, it’s time that you created a space in your home that is set up for your work-from-home future and a space that will contribute to your professional life without damaging your personal life.
Here are six tips for creating the perfect working from home environment to keep you happy and healthy in the months ahead.
Vary Up The Seating Arrangements
Nothing says a comfy office space in your home other than a variety of seating options.
Now, it’s important that you are careful about avoiding any injuries by sitting awkwardly, but the big advantage to having your own home office space is that you can have all kinds of seating options for different times throughout the day.
It’s recommended to have a specific chair and desk for your laptop to sit on and you to work from most of the time, but if you need some more relaxing work time, why not get a Lovesac bean bag to chill out in or a nice old comfy sofa to lay on while you’re on the phone or planning your next big work project?
Think About Temperature
Do you miss that hot and stuffy office that was always freezing cold in the wintertime and boiling hot in the summer, not to mention the aircon that made you feel like you were either sitting in Antarctica or in the middle of the Sahara desert drying everything out within seconds?
No? Doesn’t sound like fun, does it? This is why airflow is important!
With your own home office, you are in charge of the window, but it’s so much more than that. Consider installing a smart air conditioner or specific smart air conditioner plug for your current aircon, and use a smart thermostat to set a climate control.
Use windows and fans if you need them and keep your office space at the temperature YOU want it, rather than your colleague three computers down who always wears gloves even in summer.
Go For Ergonomic Furniture
As mentioned above, being able to have a variety of furniture options is a BIG bonus for home workers, and it can really help to break up the day by moving around the room to different areas depending on your tasks and circumstances.
For many people, though, they will want a proper desk and office chair to spend a large proportion of their day in, which is why it’s important to get ergonomic furniture that supports your back and pressure points and helps you to avoid injuries.
Many companies now are asking their newly-remote employees if they need any furniture at their homes to keep them comfortable. This might be a good option if you don’t fancy forking out for an expensive office chair yourself.
Separate Your Work Area
This is absolutely vital, and so many people don’t do it! You really must separate out your “work zone” from your “family zone” as much as possible.
This can be done in a variety of ways, either physically by having your office space in a spare room or a spare corner, or just visually by using movable walls and different paint colors to create that workspace.
Decoration-wise, it’s worth going for something that will complement your home decor but be completely different. For example, if you’ve gone for the rustic farmhouse look with lots of natural woods and fresh white walls, go for much darker walls in your home office but keep the touches of natural wood on display to tie it all together.
Use Inspiring Colours
There’s a big thing to be said for color psychology, and painting your office space a different color can actually have an effect on both you and your productivity.
The most inspiring color is usually thought to be yellow as it promotes feelings of creativity, but using pops of red and orange can help to create a comfortable work zone that is full of good homely feeling.
Don’t Forget The Coffee!
The workday wouldn’t be complete without a good coffee, right?
Americans drink an incredible amount of coffee every single day, and it’s fair to say that some people are more coffee snobs than others!
No matter what kind of coffee you like, and where it comes from, investing in a good coffee machine for your office space (or even just for your kitchen) is a great option for a home office.
Want to take your coffee game up a level? Now is your chance to invest in a smart coffee machine that hooks up to your wifi, meaning your dream of a freshly brewed cup of coffee waiting for you when you roll out of bed in the morning has just become a reality.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Lifestyle category
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