5 Ways to Redesign Your Home Office for Maximum Remote Work Efficiency
As your work from home life starts to get busier, you might suddenly realize that your bedroom setup isn’t working. After all, a pile of pillows might be great for getting some shuteye, but they don’t work great as a desk. If that’s the case, it’s time to level up your home office so you can be as productive – if not more productive – while you’re working remotely. We’ve got some tips to help get you motivated and ready to get down to business.
Soundproof your home office
As you work from home, you may quickly realize how loud your neighborhood or household really is. Screaming kids playing outside, a dog barking at the doorbell, your family playing loud video games – the list of distracting audio noises goes on and on. Luckily, there’s a way to solve it: insulating wall materials. By covering your home office walls in noise-blocking materials, you can escape into a quiet space where you can think and be productive.
If you really want to take your noise reduction to the next level, you might want to consider investing in noise-canceling headphones as well.
Consider your ergonomics
When you’re at home, it’s probably a lot easier to be comfortable than when you’re working at the office. After all, there are not too many offices where you can show up to work in your pajamas day after day and still have a job.
But what you wear isn’t the only consideration you will want to make with regard to your comfort. First and foremost, you’ll want to ensure that your workspace is ergonomic. Here are some tips to ensure that your workspace fits your body well:
· Desk: Your desk should allow your legs to easily fit under it. Or, you might want to consider investing in a standing desk so you can break up your day with sitting and standing periods.
· Chair: Make sure your chair has armrests, an adjustable seat height, lumbar support, and swiveling ability. These features will help ensure that you’re not straining yourself to move during the day.
· Keyboard: Your keyboard should be centered with your body, not off to the side, for maximum efficiency and comfort.
· Mouse: Make sure your mouse rolls easily so you don’t strain your wrist trying to move it repeatedly. You should also position your mouse close to your keyboard to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries.
· Posture: Don’t slouch, which can hurt your back and neck over time and keep your elbows tucked in while working.
· Breaks: You should take regular breaks during the workday. Breaks are good for your mental and physical health.
Add places where you can move
If you’re the type that gets restless during the workday, you might want to outfit your home office with several different work areas and pieces of furniture. Invest in a chair from Universal Furniture if you need a recommendation for a place to start. From there, you can also buy large floor cushions and a coffee table when you need a break from sitting at your desk.
Consider some greenery
Adding plants to your workspace is a great way to boost your mood. Ideally, you should pick plants that are well-suited for lower light conditions and can live indoors without any issues. Plants like ferns or polka dot plants are great places to start. Plus, plants also can make a home office more cheerful and add an aesthetic touch.
Make sure your lighting is up to snuff
One of the most important parts of your home office is your lighting. Sure, overhead lighting is great at illuminating the entire room, but you’ll likely want to invest in more concentrated task lighting too. Make sure that you’re using LED bright white lights that give you a clean light rather than yellow. It might also make sense to invest in a dimmer so you can get exactly the amount of light you need instead of too much or too little.
Conclusion: Set your home office up for success
Working from home can be very distracting but with a few tips, you can make the most of your remote work experience. Use this article as your guide and set up an awesome home office you’ll look forward to working from.