The current pandemic sent a lot of the workforce home to do their job remotely. This is true in all parts of the globe. The reason for this is to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which already led to the death of more than 2 million individuals worldwide.
If you are lucky enough to have a job that you can do from home, you have so much to be thankful about. Not only are you safe from the plague because you do not need to go out and commute daily, but you also get to spend more time with your family or on a new hobby that’s doable while in quarantine. That’s the silver lining you can derive from the situation. Now, more than ever, you have been allowed to pursue work-life balance.
You need a work-conducive home office. Here’s how to pull that off.
The right spot
You are lucky if you have a spare room in your house for an office. But if that’s not the case, do not fret. You can work around this limitation with a dose of creativity. The first order of business is determining the best spot in the house. That will depend on the kind of work you do.
If you need total privacy and silence, situate your office on the second floor, far from the living room, where your entire family probably spend their idle time. Now, if you do not have the privilege of a second floor, you can DIY a private nook in your humble abode.
All you need is a solid panel that can work as a divider. You can buy screws online to make your DIY divider foldable. You can add wheels to make it mobile.
Proper work equipment
This covers the computer, table, work chair, and lighting. You need a computer suited to the kind of work you do. If you edit videos or design graphics, you need a more heavy-duty computer. If you are only doing admin work like scheduling and data entry, a consumer-grade laptop should do the job.
As for the appropriate work table, mind your height. When you work on your computer, your arms should be parallel to the floor.
Go for an ergonomically-designed work chair. That means the natural contours of your body will be aptly supported. Sitting for prolonged periods causes too much strain on your back. The least you could do is have a comfy chair.
Lastly, choose soft lighting. Lighting that’s too intense will strain your eyes. The same goes with lighting that’s insufficient. Find the middle ground.
Dependable internet connection
This will also depend on the work you need to accomplish. If you need to download and upload large files regularly, you will need higher Mbps. For example, for video calls, you need at least 8 Mbps download / 1.5 Mbps upload speed. Anything less than that might result in disrupted calls, which won’t be too professional.
Run a speed test now. See if you need to upgrade your connection.
Other necessities
If you are the type to function best in organized spaces, you will need cabinets for your home office. Those are stuff you can purchase online. Or, if you have enough spare time, you may DIY. The latter will afford you freedom in terms of design and functionality.
On top of cabinets, consider other necessities. Do you run on caffeine while working? Then have a coffee machine nearby. Sure, you already have one in the kitchen, but leaving your home office for a cup of coffee just when you’re already on auto-pilot will disrupt your momentum.
Home office rules
This is most crucial if you leave with your family, kids specifically. If you want to get stuff done, rules must be implemented. A semblance of routine must be followed. Otherwise, everything will be up in the air, and before you know it, the day has ended and all you’ve done is send one email.
If you want to maximize the perks of having a remote job, you need to start working smart. Start by ensuring that you have all the things you need to accomplish your job with as much ease as possible. Your only goal is to deliver what’s expected of you. How you do it, you’re pretty much in control.
So allow yourself to enjoy not having to commute daily to work. Allow yourself the peace of not having a boss in the same physical space as you are, always breathing down your neck. Indulge in the relative freedom of working out of the office—no need to feel guilty about it.
