Post-COVID, many organisations have adopted the work-from-home and hybrid office culture to connect remote teams and boost productivity across borders.
But to get the most out of this as a worker, you must consider improving your home workstation to get premium results and avoid strains from prolonged work hours.
A poorly thought-out workstation can lead to poor productivity, strenuous situations, and health complications. Here are the effective ways to set up your home workstation to avoid this.
Getting Started
To build your home office, you must first decide which space or room to work in. If you have a dedicated study room, that's perfect. Else consider using the guest room or any other that is available. Ideally, you want a space where you can close the door behind you during work. This is especially important if you have a family at home. Thus, spaces like the living room and kitchen area are not great options.
The room choice must remain comfortable throughout the year. Some rooms are ideal during the summer but not in the winter. A sunroom may be lovely during the spring. You may need to pack and move when the season changes. Also, consider the room's ventilation; good ventilation is important for your overall health. If possible, ensure to have at least a window that opens to the outside environment to allow for fresh air and sunlight.
Finally, consider the outlets in your room. Most home office devices require electricity and internet connectivity to function. We recommend hiring a professional electrician to help you plan and implement effective and efficient network and electric cable lines. However, in the short term, you can always get an extension cord to extend your power sources.
Essentials for Setting Up a Home Office
Your home office essentials may differ depending on your type of work. The items included below are essential to individuals in the corporate field and those who use computers much more than any other working equipment. If you've chosen the room for your home office, here's everything you need next.
#1 - Table/Work Desk
A working desk is the first essential piece of equipment to purchase for your home office. Over the years, the choice between traditional and sit-stand desks has tilted in favour of the latter as experts tout them as the ideal desk options health-wise. Sit-stand desks provide the opportunity to alternate between sitting and standing. This helps avoid adverse health effects associated with standing or sitting for prolonged hours.
There are several options to choose from. My evaluation of the best standing desks in Australia should help you decide which best suits you. The ideal desk allows a perfect posture and alleviates back pain, body strain, and repetitive strain injuries. Use our desk height calculator to choose the ideal desk height based on your height.
#2 - Ergonomic Chair
Next, pick the accompanying stool or chair for your sit-stand desk. Avoid traditional office chairs with very limited adjusted parts at all costs. These chairs are associated with injuries and strains from putting up with a posture that may not be ideal for you due to their lack of flexibility. Instead, choose ergonomic and adjustable chairs that allow you to change your position and still be comfortable during work hours.
At the bare minimum, the best ergonomic chairs have an adjustable seat height, backrest and armrest, and lumbar support to provide back support. Similarly, you can work get desk stools for your standing desk. But unlike ergonomic chairs, stools have less adjustability and can be less comfortable than ergonomic chairs for a full day of work.
#3 - Monitors
You may need single or multiple monitors or a second laptop to boost your productivity, depending on your work role. Most people install two screens to enhance their productivity. This is not necessarily a requirement, and it depends on the individual and the type of work whether more screen estate will boost productivity. Although it works for many people, including me, you might not need to invest in a second monitor.
#4 - Monitor Stands/Arms
Monitor stands or arms can be essential to obtain the right ergonomic position and can also help enable additional desk space. Most arms come with a clamp that holds the far edge of your sit-stand desk, giving you plenty of room to work with on your table. Similarly, non-adjustable monitor stands offer room below your monitor, while others come with dedicated storage spaces.
#5 - Keyboard and Mouse
You have two options for the keyboard and mouse: battery-powered or corded. Battery-powered models reduce clutter on your desk and are ideal for minimalistic workstation designs. All now come with built-in rechargeable batteries that last for ages.
The opposite is true for corded keyboards and mice. Without dedicated desk cable management, they easily clutter your working space. I recommend the battery-powered options for this reason. You will find multiple options that match your working style and complement your office. I recently purchased this super fast, accurate and customisable gaming mouse.
#6 - Web Camera
Web cameras are important to any work-from-home office setup. Especially so if you must interact with your work colleagues and bosses frequently. Most desktop machines and laptops have built-in cameras.
For those that do not feature one, you will need a separate web camera installed to attend virtual meetings. I recommend getting a good web camera but remember that high resolution is not necessarily the marker of quality.
#7 - Headphone With Mic
In the same space as web cameras are headphones with microphones. Again, you can do without them if your work laptop or desktop has built-in headphones and microphone support. Microphones are crucial for job roles that require frequent communication with other clients, work colleagues supervisors. So invest in a good quality set! And always buy one with background noise cancellation.
#8 External Hard Disk
While the cloud has become the ideal memory bank for data backup, it doesn't hurt to keep a local copy. Choose a hard disk capacity depending on the bulk of office data backup. Some workers keep two separate hard disks to ensure data availability when needed. Keeping your data safe is crucial. Remember, you can always replace your hardware but not your data.
Other Helpful Gadgets and Accessories
Your workstation is now complete, and you can begin work. But to boost your productivity and energy levels even further, the following gadgets and accessories can be very helpful.
#1 - Desk Lamp
Of course, you have already considered lighting for your home office. But desk lamps can be a crucial addition to that. They complement your workstation and the ambience of your room and help you concentrate better for longer. Desk lamps are available in various models and types. Some options come with USB C ports and wireless charging functionalities, while apps manage others.
#2 - Humidifier
Humidifiers add moisture to the surrounding air to reduce dryness. They are a crucial workspace addition, especially in dryer seasons like winter. Dry air leads to irritation that reduces productivity drastically. This smart gadget can help avoid this and improve your well-being when used appropriately. They are also safe to use.
#3 - Bulletin Board
Bulleting boards remind you of the different assignments and the things you need to plan. They also help you keep track of pending deadlines when used effectively. You can post sticky note reminders or even decorate them with family pictures. Sometimes looking at loved ones' pictures gives us a nice reminder in the middle of the day.
#4 - Desk Organiser
A desk organiser lets you efficiently put away stationery items like extra pens, pencils, post-it notes, files, and even important reminders. They come in varying sizes, space allocations, and designs to complement your home office. Others come with file organisers, and those are a better choice. Choose one that has ample space to hold all your peripheral working tools.
#5 - Plants
Adding an indoor plant to your space creates a great home-office vibe. You can keep them in a seagrass basket or on your desk. Nature is relaxing, and being close to one can help boost your energy levels and increase your productivity at your workstation.
#6 - Security Camera
Installing a dedicated office security camera can also be crucial. If you work in a hybrid-office culture, you can keep an eye on your home office while away at work. These devices also help you monitor important documents and identify any theft or unlawful intrusions while away.
#7 - Coffee Machine
If you are a coffee lover, you can invest in a good coffee machine. Decide between an espresso coffee maker or a pod coffee machine and choose which best suits you. Working from home may mean you can't pass by your local shop every morning to get your coffee on your way to work.
5 Tips to Effectively Work From Home
Working from home can be daunting if you're new to the experience. It has its advantages, but there are pitfalls to take note of. To make it easier for you, Here are tips we've learned over the years to work efficiently from home.
1. Build a Workspace
We assume from above you already have built your workspace and are ready to go. But it can be easy to lose focus in your own space with no one watching. Ensure that your dedicated space is void of distractions and rabbit holes that can lead you on with little to show for at the end of the work day. That does not mean you cannot listen to music or podcasts that motivate you to do more.
2. Maintain Regular Hours
Working from home easily blurs the lines between when your workday is over and when it isn't. It is important not to create your workstation in intimate spaces like the corner of your bedroom. This can disrupt your sleep patterns and affect your health. Ensure to set reminders for when to get you off work if you find difficulty doing so.
3. Have a Break Schedule
Unlike working in an office environment, where breaks and lunch are timed, you're often free to do as you like when working from home. This can either lead to a poor or extremely disciplined working culture. If you're the latter make sure you schedule breaks away from your workstation to exercise or relax the mind. They are essential for higher concentration levels, productivity, energy, and efficiency.
4. Always Dress Appropriately
How you dress affects your productivity. It's a state of mind from the habits built over the years. Working in your pyjamas reduces your productivity as the brain associates that with sleep, relaxation, and drowsiness. Wearing the right clothes with help increase your energy levels.
5. Make It Personal
Figure out what works best for you and stick with it. The ultimate aim is to have a workstation that caters to all your productivity and health needs. Where necessary and possible, take inspiration from the community of remote workers around you—even your work colleagues and their workstation setup and habits. But do hesitate to toss out what is the norm but don't help you get the best of yourself.
Now, Work Like a Pro!
The perfect home office may or may not have the same design as the rest of the house, but it should have the feel of a built-in work environment—it should be a place where you enjoy working and can get things done. It should meet your specific needs and also be work-inspiring.
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