How to Set Up a Home Office – A Comprehensive Guide
In 2020, many people struggled to set up a home office quickly. Our home offices have become a more permanent workplace than many of us imagined this time last year. Even as COVID-19 appears to be coming to an end, many people still want the option to work from home.
The transition to working from home was rough for many businesses and employees, and many struggled to find the right way to work remotely while keeping communication strong. Having the right space to work in was also difficult for people not used to working from home.
Now that people have gotten into the groove, it may prove difficult to go back to the office. People are productive and happy not having to commute. Staying at home is proving to be a viable option.
Even as things begin to get back to normal as we knew it, working from home is here to stay. This can mean setting up a permanent home office for many employees, even those who have been working from home. When choosing to work from home, you want to have the best possible work environment.
This work environment includes having the right space and office tools. Knowing how to set up the right home office can be confusing, even when people have been working from home for the past year. Having the right mindset will help everyone feel productive no matter what is going on.
Finding the Right Space
When first deciding to work from home, you must find the right space to work in. It should include the basics: a desk, a chair, and space for your computer. It should also have space for any additional materials that your job requires.
It will also help to set your home office apart from the rest of your house. Keep the door closed and have set hours when you’re working. Breaks can happen, but they should be regularly scheduled and timed.
The above step can be difficult with children at home. Parents have learned to master the art of multi-tasking while managing their work schedule on top of their child’s schoolwork. Maintaining a strict schedule and communicating will help keep your workday flowing.
What to Look for in a Home Office
Setting up a home office space can be restrictive for some people. Some people live in small houses or apartments or live with other people with similar work needs. Every home can fit a home office, it’s just a matter of thinking creatively.
If possible, having a space that is just for work can help establish a separation between work and home. If space is limited, a corner or table of your home will help set a space. Using curtains around your office during work hours will help keep distractions at bay as well.
You will want a space where you can complete your work. A place that is comfortable enough to work in without getting distracted. You want to try and create an office environment as much as possible in your home office.
This space needs to be big enough to have all of the materials you need to be successful at work. A desk, chair, and computer are the basics. Some jobs may require extra supplies and materials that you will need to account for.
When establishing a home office, you will want to ensure that the internet is reliable. With more people working from home, video conferences and employee chat services have become common. If more than one person is working from home you may want to consider your internet options.
Very few people can work from home distraction-free. You will want to plan and modify what you can to create a home office environment that works for you.
The Importance of Routine
Having the right space can be more than physical space, being in the right mindset helps. Having a schedule will help you concentrate on work, with or without kids. We all have distractions at home, pets, cleaning, and entertainment can draw us away from work.
Having structure will help you know what to do next day-to-day. Knowing that you start the day responding to emails before the morning meeting will help you stay on task. You can move from one task to the next and feel confident that everything is getting done.
Even a simple morning routine that you complete every day will help you get in the work mindset. When commuting, we rely on the commute to transition from home to work. When working from home you may want to establish a morning routine before heading to work.
Designing a Home Office
Once you have found the right office space and routine, you want a beautiful space to work in. Decorating your office can provide the final touch to making your home feel like an office. The right decor can also place you in the right state of mind for work.
By working at home, you have more control over how your office looks. Utilize the space to your advantage and create the work environment you want. Your new home office can be personalized and productive.
When decorating your home office you can play with colors and layout to create your ideal work environment. An office doesn’t have to be sterile. You can also play with style to bring out your personality while still being productive at work.
Though the home office is away from the rest of your home, you may still want personal items set up. Pictures and personal touches can help your office space feel less cold and more inviting. Having de-stressors readily available will help you decompress from the stressful moments of your job.
Any office should be conveniently organized. By laying out your space to optimize storage, you will know where everything is and keep clutter to a minimum. Depending on how much space you have, you will have to be creative with how things are stored.
Drawers and boxes can help with storing work supplies that you don’t need out all the time. For convenience’s sake, it is better to keep as many of your office supplies in your home office. That way, you’re not running around your house to find pens.
Office Furniture
Working from home was a major adjustment for many people. One of the challenges for many people was finding the right furniture. Many of us were not used to buying office furniture for our homes and didn’t know where to start.
Even with working from home becoming more normalized and routine, knowing what furniture to get can be a struggle. With so many options and health considerations, getting office furniture seems more complicated than ever.
The good news is that all of the options available will help you find the right furniture. From standing desks to chairs that support your back, it has never been easier to get supportive office furniture.
Desks
This is a huge one when it comes to how to set up a home office. The defining feature of any office is the desk. Desks provide a sturdy work environment to work on. Having a desk can also help with your posture. If you are ready to work from home long-term, it is time to start with the desk.
Choosing your home office desk can provide you with more options. Desks come in several design options, from sturdy and classic to sleek and modern. Working from home allows you to get the desk you’ve always wanted.
When looking at desks, you may notice that standing desks have become popular. While many desks have a designated space for sitting all day, standing desks adjust to a standing position. Standing while working may seem uncomfortable, but it does come with several benefits.
Sitting too much can lead to several health complications, including higher blood pressure and blood sugar. While getting up and moving during designated breaks can help alleviate those symptoms, getting a standing desk will also help.
A standing desk will break the monotony of sitting all day. Many adults can sit for up to 12 hours a day. A standing desk will help you be healthier while you’re working. No under the desk bicycle required!
If you are not quite ready to commit to a standing desk, you can purchase a frame. Frames provide the basic framework for a standing desk without getting a new desk. Just add the surface for a standing desk that will help you stay healthy at work.
Besides alleviating serious health complications, standing desks can help with more immediate problems. Neck and back pain have been linked to long periods of sitting. Getting a standing desk can help you with multiple health concerns.
Chairs
While standing desks do not require chairs, you may want to sit for some periods of your workday. Office chairs can be overlooked when looking at other office furniture. But overlooking office chairs can contribute to developing health problems.
Sitting all day is known to cause back and neck pain. Finding a supportive office chair will provide you the necessary back support for times you sit. Many chairs, including old office chairs, encourage bad posture by hunching or leaning too far forward. A good office chair will discourage bad posture habits and help you sit the right way.
A good office chair will help you relax and orient your sitting for optimal posture. Even when you’re reading on your computer all day. Back and neck pain can develop over time and you can prevent that with a good office chair.
Even with a good office chair, having a standing desk will keep back and neck pain at bay. We spend hours at work and we want to ensure that we take care of our bodies while doing so. The right desk and chairs will help with that goal.
Other Office Accessories
Having a home office is more than a desk and chair. A home office needs the right storage components. Work often requires us to save information, physically and digitally, and a storage system will keep that safe.
A filing cabinet, large or small, will keep your important information in one place. Having a dedicated storage system will help you keep organized while working at home. It will also be easier to work when you know where everything is.
Other office tools can help you complete your work and feel comfortable doing it. Computer monitor adjusters for desktop computers and footrests will help you use tools effectively. Working from home should be as comfortable as possible and the variety of options available allows that to happen.
Office tools should be used to help you stay organized and complete your job. Working from home can present many unique challenges. Getting and using the right office tools should not be among them.
Conclusion
Working from home opens up your work life to more freedom. You can set up your new office to what works best for you, from decorating to the furniture. 2020 forced many people into changes they were not ready for, but now that we have adjusted to those changes, many of us don’t want to go back.
Setting up a home office begins by:
- Finding the right space in your home
- Setting up a healthy work routine within your home
- Furnishing with a desk, chair and accessories
- Decorating to your desire
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