7 Tips for your Home Office
Millions of people have been working in the home office for a few days now. This is a challenge for many. The VPN does not work, the screen is too small and those who have children are at best only interrupted every hour. Besides all the challenges, home office also has something wonderful about it. You have the freedom to set up your home office according to your own taste and personal needs. To make your home office the perfect place for unbridled productivity and creative ideas, here are 6 tips for designing your home office.
1. Tip: Remove distractions and draw boundaries
Despite working from home, you should try to draw a clear line between work and living space. Of course, from time to time you can answer a few emails during your morning coffee at the kitchen table, but in the longer term, it makes sense to set up an office-like workplace. A room with a lockable door would be perfect for a home office. This makes it easier to work productively - away from distractions caused by everyday objects (TV, games consoles etc.), roommates or family. If you want to set up a home office, but currently have too little space, then placeB can help you. We provide storage room for those items that currently make it impossible to create your home office.
2. Tidy up
Make sure that all the things you need for your work are easily accessible and yet well taken care of. Everything should have its fixed place and not lie around. Important: only the most important things should be on the desk or work surface. The rest should be stored in a cupboard, a chest of drawers or in a drawer. Anything superfluous distracts you from your work.
You can also get good tips for a sustainable order from an order coach. For example organize-my-space.ch.
3. Tip: Pleasant seating and good lighting
For your home office, comfortable seating and good lighting is essential. You will spend a good 8 hours at the office table and chair on a working-from-home day. The chair must offer support for your back and must not interfere with the work; for example, if the armrests are too high or something like that. On a good ergonomic chair, the seat height, armrest height, seat angle and backrest can be adjusted. When sitting on the chair, your knees and pelvis should be at a 90-100-degree angle and both feet should completely touch the ground. When the chair is moved to the office table, the upper and lower arms should form a right angle. If this is not the case, the height of the table top should be adjusted, if possible.
The lighting in the home office should be non-dazzling ceiling lighting that floods the room with soft light. This will give your home office a friendly and pleasant atmosphere. A flexible, adjustable desk lamp complements the lighting in your home office. For working on the screen or if you need indirect lighting, you can turn the desk lamp away but turn it back to read documents when needed.
4. Tip: Technically on the ball!
Your computer, printer, scanner, and your cell phone - these are the important things in your home office. Keep in mind that your internet connection's download and upload speed could also be important. If you need to download, receive or send larger files regularly, then the fastest possible internet connection is important. And don't forget, make sure you also have access to the important files and tools on your computer from home. Being on the technical side helps to make working from home as efficient and productive as possible.
5. Tip: Fixed working times
Sleep in and then only start working at noon: that is never a good idea. Even when working at home you should sit down at a fixed time at your desk. The new-found flexibility of a home office may still have the charm of a laissez-faire attitude. Are you prone to start working a little later than usual and more often take breaks? When you realize that your efficiency is declining, you need to time your workday at home. A punctual start of work in the morning brings structure to the day and creates reliability for customers or staff. With this in mind it is also important to set goals. When must what be ready? Which deadline can you absolutely not miss?
Extra tip: If you work from home, it is very tempting to spend the day looking like a slob. The problem with this is that for many people it's more of a feeling of relaxation than work. So, it may make sense to dress in the morning so that you are always able leave the house or to receive visitors. Dressing in "work clothes” is also something that can serve as a start to the working day. Nevertheless, the benefits of working from home continue to be tried and tested! For example, if you find yourself most creative and productive in a bathrobe, working from home in a bathrobe is the perfect solution for you!
6. Tip: Take breaks!
Constant distractions are not good - taking small targeted breaks is much better. Especially at lunchtime, it feels good if you leave your home office and possibly have a bite to eat with some friends or work colleagues. Stretching the legs will help you to recharge for the rest of the day. Even during your working hours at the home office, short, targeted breaks are useful. Have a cup of coffee or tea, have a healthy snack and open the windows.
7. Tip: Time to switch off
Even working in the confines of your home does finally come to an end. When working from home, you should not be tempted to prolong your work day until late in the evening. Once you have finish work, do it right and show yourself you can now switch off and relax. This means: Closing the laptop too, getting up, leaving your workplace and possibly dressing in something else. It can also be a completely different ritual. What is important is that you mentally conclude your working day and enjoy the evening. Resting periods are incredibly important, so you can start the new working day refreshed and full of energy.
