Many companies have transitioned to 100% remote in the wake of the pandemic. As a result, workers are scrambling to create home offices that help boost their productivity and keep them focused. Although there are many benefits to working from home like ridding yourself of an anxiety-inducing commute and avoiding office distractions, there are also some drawbacks, too. For example, working from home and not getting the social interaction you’re accustomed to can be isolating. Below, we’ve put together some tips for building out a home office and tricks to help you deal with the disadvantages of working from home.
Find a quiet space
Although you might not have a dedicated home office, it’s important to at least carve out a corner for yourself. Your office area should be uncluttered and quiet. With that said, make sure that it’s a real office area and not your bed. As much as your bed might provide you with temporary comfort, it’s a bad place for productivity. Plus, you might be tempted to sleep away the day if you stay in bed.
Add some DIY touches
Create unique décor with concrete epoxy, which can be used to create customized pencil holders, letter holders, beverage coasters, and more. Or you can create unique art with an acrylic pouring kit. All you need are pouring paints, canvases, and a dash of creativity.
Choose ergonomic furniture
Ergonomic furniture is crucial for your health and happiness, whether you realize it or not. When you work with office furniture that isn’t built for you, it can leave you with strains and sprains. Over time, poorly designed office furniture can even cause chronic issues. To avoid these problems, you should have a best office chair for back problems in your home office. These chairs are specially designed with lumbar support and adjustable height. So it can adequately fit your body and keep you comfortable over the workday.
Add plants
Plants are an incredibly easy way to liven up your working space without spending lots of money. If you don’t want to go into a store, there are plenty of online nurseries that make it easy for you to pick a plant or multiple plants. Stick to hardier species if you’re worried about killing your plant friends. Ferns, aloe plants, and spider plants are all good beginner plant owner choices.
Create a schedule
When you’re working from home, it can be easy to lose track of time and avoid taking breaks. But, in order to stay on top of your mental health, make sure you set yourself up with some structure. Consider setting alarms on your phone or using a timer app to take breaks. Give yourself at least thirty minutes for lunch and sprinkle in smaller breaks as well.
Make sure you give yourself a hard stopping time. When you don’t have a schedule, it can be easy to just get one more thing done or answer one last email. However, that can create a destructive cycle that makes it hard for you to establish a work-life balance. By giving yourself a “hard stop” time, you can enjoy a strong personal and professional boundary.
Connect with coworkers
When you’re working by yourself day in and day out, you may start to feel lonely. Even the most introverted among us need some amount of social interaction. If you don’t have a social circle, consider setting up a happy hour with your coworkers. You can play games, host a virtual happy hour, or just catch up.
Invest in good technology
If you have a computer that’s always crashing or a display that’s too small, you’ll get frustrated throughout the day because you can’t reach your maximum productivity levels. Make sure you have a fast internet connection and quality technology to boost your ability to work.
Creating the Ideal Work-Home-Space, One Step at a Time
If you’re transitioning to fully remote work, you might not really get into the groove of your new situation until a few weeks in. With that said, there are some steps you can take to make the transition easier. Make sure you start by setting up a dedicated workspace. Then, you should invest in ergonomic furniture and add a few decorative touches. With these tips, you can enjoy successful and productive remote work.