During these strange times, a lot of us have had to get used to the challenge of working from home for the first time. Being able to comfortably work from home has never been so important. Whether as a temporary measure during these times or as a new way forward to a better work/life balance. Here are a few tips that I hope you will find helpful to make you more comfortable.
Although the longest journey you are currently making may be upstairs, downstairs, to the bottom of your garden or wherever your workspace is located, it is important to replicate the physical separation between your work and home by having a designated workspace in your house. It would also be ideal if you could close the door at the end of the working day so you are not tempted to nip back in just to check your emails.
Find a comfortable chair, that you are happy to sit on for up to 8 hours a day, preferably the office ‘swivel’ type with plenty of adjustment including if possible:
Take a look at our range of office chairs here.
Try to get a designated desk which will make the transition from home to work much easier and will ensure that you are working at the correct height and position, making you feel more professional and in control. It will also mean that you won’t have to pack up every night as your ‘desk’ is going to be used as a dining table. You can simply shut your home office door and walk away until you start work the next morning.
Take a browse at our office desks here.
You may need extra power sockets as you will have a pc, printer, phone chargers, fans, coffee machine etc. Consider a desk mounted power module with a least 2 power sockets for quick and easy access without having to dive beneath your desk and banging your head!
Just because you are away from the office, please don’t forget to back up your data.
Good lighting is important to avoid eye strain. Consider adding a desk lamp to any existing lighting you have in your home office. Place your monitor or laptop so that there is no glare on the screen from any windows. Most importantly, make sure the lighting is very flattering when you take part in all of the Zoom meetings we are getting used to!
Get those windows open!
Make sure you stick to a work day routine as you would if you were going to the office. Take regular breaks, keep hydrated and avoid snacking. Walk to another area of the home or garden or even go out for a walk in your lunch break. Interact with other family members and friends (subject to social distancing of course).
I hope I have helped in a small way in what are difficult times for us all. Let’s get through the other side with a positive frame of mind and ready to take on the world!
About the author
Mark Brown is an expert in office furniture and design and has spent over a decade offering organisations advice on setting up office spaces to enhance productivity. Mark is the owner of Lismark Office Products, a high-quality office furniture supplier, based in Leicester.