Many of us would have felt a drastic change in our lifestyle in recent months as the Coronavirus pandemic impacts our lives. In particular, this has required our place of work to adapt their processes and allow employees to continue their role remotely from home.
The issue that many of us have, however, is finding a dedicated space in our home to be able to work comfortably. We can sometimes lack motivation and get caught up with other distractions that are occurring around the house. This makes creating the perfect virtual space to work from home even more important.
If you have the ability to work from home, we’ve put together some top tips to help create your perfect virtual home office which will ensure you can be as productive as possible and keep you motivated during quarantine.
1. Ensure you have the basic equipment
First and foremost, you need all the essential equipment in order for you to work from home. This will include your laptop or PC, a desk and comfortable sitting chair. You may also need items such as stationary and writing pads, depending on the type of role that you do.
Be sure to remember what tools you rely on in your role that you can easily bring into your home office. Some businesses offer the option of taking relevant equipment home with you, so be sure to ask whether you can loan this equipment out temporarily.
2. Pick an isolated work area
To avoid any distractions and interruption with your concentration, you need to pick a room or area in the room that will have the least amount of fuss. This way, you can focus more on your work rather than watching what the kids are doing!
This will also be beneficial if you’re required to use video calls for virtual meetings with your clients or colleagues. If you have distractions that occur in the background, it can be seen as unprofessional. You need to be able to hear your fellow employees and understand them clearly so you can work efficiently. A good example of an isolated space is a converted loft or basement.
3. Considerations for technology
How well you can perform your role at home will depend heavily on the tools and technologies that you have. Without the majority of technologies that are possible in today’s age, the possibility of working from home would be practically impossible. Think about what technologies will be essential when you’re working home, and consider the following:
Ensure you’re close to the WiFi support and it works effectively.
Will you need a large screen to work efficiently? Will you need dual screens? Consider whether this would be a more practical option when you work from home.
Sit close to a power outlet so you’re not worrying about the battery level of your devices when you need them most.
Do you take regular work calls? If so, ensure you’re in a room that has good phone service so you don’t lose reception.
All these aspects should be considered to ensure you have the ultimate virtual office at your fingertips. Less complications means more productivity.
4. Pick a professional area
Whilst having an isolated space is important, how it looks is just as important too. Now that you’re unable to congregate at your office, you need to be able to communicate with your colleagues through alternative methods, which will most likely be a video call.
Although your colleagues will be aware of the current situation and that not all homeowners have the privilege of a home office. But, the best you can do is utilise the space that you already have and showcase a space that can promote productivity.
If you create a space that looks professional, you’ll instantly feel in the working mood. It looks as though you’re well organised and are ensuring that you can do as much work as possible.
Take the necessary steps to create the best possible virtual office
With the uncertainty growing over when we can all return to work, ensuring you’re comfortable working from home is becoming even more important. Utilise the space that you have and attempt to take the steps to create the best possible virtual workspace. The steps above should be the starting point when it comes to creating this.
Author bio: Jennifer is an experienced interior design writer based in Manchester in the United Kingdom. She studied Product and Furniture Design at the Chelsea College of Arts and benefited from working with a business that specializes in designer furniture from previous employment. When she’s not writing she owns two dogs that take up the majority of her spare time. [You can contact Jenny via her @Jranking_ Twitter account]
