Working remotely has a variety of appealing advantages. Not only do you get more schedule flexibility, but you no longer need to sit through rush hour traffic, and you can customize your workspace to your exact needs. Whether you're setting up shop in your living room or in a hotel room near the Brazilian beachside, working from home allows you that extra leeway you've always dreamt of. That being said, no matter where you work, it is important to create a work atmosphere that encourages productivity and high-quality performance.
Today, millions of employees around the world have shifted to remote work settings in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This rapid transition from office to home has proven to be quite difficult for some, bringing on a unique onslaught of problems that most have never had to account for pre-pandemic. This is particularly true of those who have never worked from home and don't have any sort of home office set up.
In order to help you maximize your productivity and be the most efficient home worker, we have devised the ultimate guide to the essential office design updates to make you a more productive virtual employee.
Upgrade Your Tech
One of the most glaring issues you may notice right off the bat is the poor quality of any at-home tech you may have (or a complete lack thereof!). Upgrading your tech to match your in-office needs is the first step in creating the perfect remote office. Take a look below to begin creating your tech checklist.
External Monitor
The age-old adage of “two is better than one” is especially applicable to your home computer setup. Regardless of whether you’re working on a desktop or laptop, having a dual monitor setup makes a world of difference for your productivity. Although it may seem excessive, you’ll be surprised to find how useful having the extra screen real estate can be. Purchasing a second monitor can help you cut down on the time spent switching between tabs and applications and lets you stay on task.
Wireless Mouse
Laptop touchpads can be total nuisances. Spare yourself the headache by upgrading yourself to a wireless mouse. Capture the full range of motion you need to navigate your screens and workload without any restrictive tracking.
External Keyboard
If your home office is configured with a laptop, an external keyboard may be the solution between you and more efficient typing. Laptop keyboards are designed to be compact— not ergonomic— having the full size of an external keyboard can help you type faster and more comfortably.
Boost Your Comfort Levels
It goes without saying that your comfort levels in your home office have a significant impact on your workday efficiency. Think of all the time you've spent re-adjusting your back posture or changing your wrist position so it doesn't lock up. Constant discomfort typically means that something is not working which can, in turn, contribute to a myriad of other problems down the line.
To ensure you’re as comfortable and productive as possible, buy these essentials for your home office:
Ergonomic Chair
For the vast majority of people, working remotely requires a great deal of sitting. If you don't have the right chair, you may be doing more damage to your body than you know. Nagging pain in your knees, your elbows, and your legs can become incredibly uncomfortable, which is why it's so important to invest in a chair that does your body good. An ergonomic desk chair can provide the support you need for several hours grinding away at your desk.
Wrist Support
Depending on the kind of keyboard you've outfitted your PC setup with, you may find that your wrists tend to become sore from resting in the same hard and uncomfortable position. With wrist support, you can get increased levels of padding for better typing and keep your wrists at the right angle, hour after hour, to help avoid repeated injury. Ultimately, this will help you get your job finished quickly and far more efficiently.
Invest in Noise Cancellation
In traditional office spaces, you’re surrounded by other people, noise, and distractions. When working from home, things may not be very different if you have family or roommates. If you’re unable to find the peace and quiet you need to get your work down, manifest it through a pair of noise-canceling headphones.
Not only can these genius headsets improve your ability to focus by drowning out the noise of the outside world, but they can also get you in tune with your peak focus zone. A high quality pair can make your favorite playlists or soundscapes feel totally real. No more noisy kids or chatter— just you and your work.
Personalize your space
Once you have filled your home office with your priority items, add a few personal touches to make your work environment more inviting. Change up the aesthetic by hanging inexpensive canvas prints, post-it notes, photos of friends and family, or cleverly placed plants and knick-knacks to help make the space feel warmer.
Do keep in mind that you’ll want your backdrop to be organized and appropriate for any video-conference calls you may have,
Eliminate distractions
In order to achieve peak productivity at home, you need to remove all potential distractions. This means eliminating all devices such as a TV, gaming console, and maybe even your cell phone. With all of these temptations at an arm's length, you could quickly divert from your workload and catch yourself indulging in entertainment instead.
Harking back to our previous mention, noise-canceling headphones can drown out sounds and voices from the external world so your family members or roommates can’t tap into your work zone. Be sure to pick up a pair that actually cancels out sound.
Wrapping up
Working remotely can be challenging, but with the best possible home office setup, you can effectively maximize your daily productivity and efficiency levels. From investing in the right tools and machinery to removing distractions, these tips will help you conquer working from home and help you produce your best work to date!
Author Bio: Samantha Rupp
Samantha Rupp holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is the managing editor for 365businesstips.com. She lives in San Diego, California and enjoys spending time on the beach, reading up on current industry trends, and traveling.
