–Remote Working Tips - Home Office Setup
For many of us, working from home has become the new norm and will be for the foreseeable future. This has caused concern amongst employees and employers alike whose current living situations were not conceived with efficiency or productivity in mind. But there is no need to worry. There are a number of tried and tested working-from-home tricks (some simpler than others) which can help minimize distractions, train your focus and make the space around you inspiring. Not convinced? Read on.
Today, more people than ever are working from home. The adoption of flexible hours and remote roles has boomed since the turn of the millennium. In the UK alone, the Office for National Statistics reported that between 2008 and 2018 the number of employees working from home increased by 74%. That’s just over 1.54 million people who have opted for job roles that involve less commuting, and that number just keeps rising.
Also, there is no hiding the fact that Covid-19 has changed the way we work and what was once a choice, remote working, has become mandatory for most. So, whether you’re just getting settled into your new remote routine or are seasoned in the home-office environment, we’ve pulled together some of the best home working tips that will help you increase your comfort and improve your productivity.
Home Office Setup
Now, what about the space itself? Let’s take a look at how to set up your home office for success and the things to keep in mind to maximize your productivity.
Assign a Dedicated Space
Firstly, it’s to decide on which space you will dedicate to your office. Not all of us have a separate office at home, so a simple solution to this is allocating a particular desk or chair from which you work. What’s important is that this dedicated space is only used for work and is left alone or has its details changed when the day is over.
For smaller homes, a simple trick can be changing little details around you so that you have a visible change to your home when you are working and not. For example, say you are working a desk that usually holds your alarm clock, book and items of jewellery on it. Put these away and replace them with items that represent work; an agenda, post-it notes, wall calendar etc. Then, after the working day is done, reverse the process and bring out the more personal elements once again.
Assigning yourself a space with good ventilation or air conditioning is best to do if you can. This way you'll be comfortable to focus on working.
Aim for natural light
If you can, choose a room where you have access to natural light via a window or door. Numerous studies over the years have proven that natural light and views can decrease stress, improve mood and boost concentration. It’s also been connected to better sleep patterns because of the sun’s impact on our internal clocks and serotonin levels. If you don't have the adequate means to set up your home office next to a window, then use your breaks to go outside and take a breather.
It’s also important to make sure any light source doesn’t produce glare, isn’t too bright and doesn’t shine directly into the eye or on the peripheral, this includes natural light, desk lamps and overhead lighting. By arranging lighting appropriately, you’ll be more comfortable and focused.
Be prepared for video conferences
Though this should be a given, you’d be surprised by the number of remote workers that forget to spruce up their background and find themselves face to face with colleagues or clients. When working at home, feel comfortable in your surroundings but be ready to tweak them to project a professional image to the best of your ability. One of the easiest ways to guarantee success is to select a space that has bare walls or minimal decoration behind you and that doesn’t let those viewing see too much of your personal environment.
Failing the above, hopefully the video conferencing platform that you use allows you to select the backdrop and you can create a vision of calm and order.
Video calls tend to pick up lots of unnecessary noises. If you have background noises such as fans or air conditioners running, it might be a good idea to turn them off during your video calls.
Organised and clutter-free
Just as it’s wise to keep your video conference minimal, the same can be said for your desk. Having an organized and clutter-free desk should be on your list of priorities, especially at the end of the day so that when you return to work the following morning, it doesn’t scream ‘chaos’ at you.
One of the top reasons for keeping a tidy desk is to reduce distractions and it’s also a simple way to help boost your confidence and reduce stress.
Though each of us will have different takes on what represents clutter, the trick is to try and not let your desk become messy with papers, mugs, toys or mail. So during breaks, collect and clear away any items encroaching on your office space
A comfortable chair is a must
If there is one investment you make, then a comfortable chair should be it and, if possible, an ergonomic one. If you are well accustomed to the office environment, you’ll know how essential it is to have a chair that is designed to make sitting as physically sound as possible, whilst keeping you focused, upright and calm.
Preferences and budgets will determine which chair is the right one for you, but, whilst it might be tempting to make do with the chair from the dining table, splashing out on a suitable seat will save you a lot of pain (literally).
Screen height for improved posture
Just as it is important to have the right chair for the job, you also need to make sure that your computer screen is at the right height. To gauge the correct height, the top of the screen should be level with the eye line or just below it and placed between 20 to 30 inches in front of you. Making these adjustments will safeguard your health, avoiding slouching, neck pain, inadequate back support and also eye strain.
Perhaps not the most obvious home solution, but opting for a standing desk can be a game-changer for many and ease the pressure being placed on certain points of the body. There is an increasing amount of studies that suggest that sitting down for long periods of time is bad for the health, and for some worse than others, which is why the stand-up desk concept has become popular over the last decade.
To hone the ergonomics of your workspace, use ergotron workspace planner, which suggests the best sitting or standing setup depending on a person’s height. The same for your wrists and arms, reduce the strain on your them by opting for an external keyboard and mouse, even for those using a laptop and tablet.
By using some of the ideas suggested in this guide you can enhance your remote work experience and build your confidence in being able to successfully manage yourself on a daily basis. These are just a handful of the simplest ways to make your workspace a more comfortable and productive place that we hope will be useful for you in your homes.
If you’re interested to know more about our residential cooling and heating climate control solutions, you can discover our full range of systems, here, including heat pumps.
by Hitachi
