Have you been thinking about giving your home office a significant upgrade? If you have, chances are you spending over 36 hours per week working from home. If you are looking for tips on setting up your home office and maximizing your productivity, this article will likely be the right fit for you.
Select an Optimal Office Space
If your office is set in a living room, there’s a chance you will get distracted easily with everyone moving around. Instead, move your home office to a room that is the least prone to commotions. You might also consider getting a barrier to separate your workspace from the rest of the room. Folding shoji screens, for instance, will let everyone in the household know that you’re at work and shouldn’t be interrupted.
Another factor that you should consider when selecting a space for your home office is the size — a home office should be spacious enough for you to move around if needed. Think about who else uses the space as you might need to add another desk and chair if the office is shared.
Have Enough Light
When it comes to work, the light becomes an absolute necessity since it helps us keep our focus. You might want to wake up earlier to catch up on all the daylight as natural light minimizes eyestrain and reduces headaches. Placing a desk close to a window will get you enough daylight, plus you can always get some fresh air. What we mentioned before most certainly improves one’s wellbeing, which consequently increases one’s productivity.
If there is a lack of natural light in your office, or if you work at night, go for an LED lamp of at least 600 lumens to achieve lighting of 300 lux. The newer generation of LED lamps is also cost-efficient and energy-saving. An anglepoise lamp is just as great for home offices because you can move it around with ease. Additionally, if you lack space on your desk, you can buy a clamp lamp that you can attach anywhere else.
Choose High-Quality Furniture
Chances are you’ll be sitting for most of your work time, so you should most definitely consider investing in an ergonomic chair. Such chairs are designed to support your hands, neck, and back, all with adjustable height for the most comfortable experience. Even though ergonomic chairs may not look pretty, they will improve your posture and, thus, health.
Another piece of furniture you should select wisely is a desk. The industry standard is 29 inches from the floor to the top. Of course, your comfort depends on your height and the desk height, and, luckily, many modern desks have an adjustable height.
You’ll know if you’ve set up the right height: your forearms will then be parallel to the floor, and your wrist won’t be bent up or down when you’re using a mouse. If you’re using a printer or other devices, you’ll want to think about another desk nearby where you’ll place those. That said, if there’s a limited space, hang shelves on the wall above your desk, where you can store necessities.
Introduce Color to Your Home Office
You’ve probably heard that red is the color of passion, and blue can calm you down. Now it’s about time you included mood-boosting colors in your home office to increase your productivity. Below, you will find out more about colors most suitable for office settings.
- Blue – this color calms the mind and helps you concentrate. It also aids communication and helps you maintain focus if you work on administrative tasks.
- Yellow – the color is excellent for setting you in the right mood to get the work done. It’s also the strongest color, so you might want to combine it with other colors.
- Green – it’s excellent for harmonizing and balance. Green doesn’t strain the eye, so if you need a calm work environment, make sure to introduce the color to your surroundings.
Declutter Space Around You
Decluttered space means fewer distractions, which leads to improved productivity. While a creative mess can make you feel like you’ve got everything under control, things might start piling up. Consider decluttering your office regularly to avoid the mess and find anything you need at lightning speed.
If you struggle with decluttering, don’t do it all at once. Start by making a list of all sections that need some cleaning and follow the list section by section. Papers usually make the biggest mess, so you’ll want designated storage for files and papers that you can’t throw away yet. You’ll also want to categorize your office supplies and label them so that it is easier to navigate your workspace. The other thing you can do is move whatever you can to cloud storage. Remember to schedule your decluttering sessions once a week to maintain the order.
Summary
If you’re struggling with your productivity, you should consider changing the environment in which you work. If you can’t move your desk to a quieter space in your home, think about separating your home office from the rest of the room you are settling in.
Remember to set your desk close to a window to get much-needed daylight. If that’s not an option, use an LED lamp. Sometimes you might feel the urge to brighten the space around you, and that’s when you should most definitely experiment with decoration. Doing so will most likely boost your mood.
While decluttering might not sound exciting, we suggest that you create a schedule for cleaning your home office. All things considered, if you follow these simple steps, you’ll be able to bring the most out of your work experience. Good luck!
