Working from home is great for many reasons. Other than endless zoom calls, there are additional challenges. Whether you’re dealing with daily distractions from home-schooling your kids, overcoming the temptation to complete home chores, or watch a movie, working from home is not going anywhere. Here are seven steps to help you create a productive workspace at home.
Step 1: You Need to Keep it Tidy
Disorganization can lead to dirt around your home workspace. When your home is dirty, not only does it demoralize you but it can also predispose you to health problems. For example, dust contributes to indoor air particulates resulting in respiratory problems.
Keep your workspace clean by establishing a regular cleaning schedule. You can commit to clean every morning before work, or just pick one day each week. The feel and look of an organized and clean space help magically lift your productivity.
Step 2: Reduce Back, Neck, and Eye Strain
Physical fatigue and strains in your back, neck, and eyes negatively impact your level of efficiency and productivity. Additionally, pain negatively impacts your sleep. One sure way of cushioning yourself from these challenges is by setting up your workspace ergonomically for your body to reduce strain.
To do so, purchase high-quality furniture from the local store or online. You’ll spend an inordinate amount of time in the same position (remember those zoom calls!) So strive to make your home office as ergonomic as possible without spending a fortune.
Set your chair to the correct height to reduce eye strain as you work on your computer. Ideally, seek to keep your body in the most relaxed or neutral position as possible. Your computer should meet the level of your eyes for optimal ergonomics. If your feet don’t touch the ground, consider investing in a footrest. Again, seek to hold your body in the most neutral, relaxed position possible.
Step 3: Leverage Digital Tools Like Zoom
In the current wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing rules, you need robust digital tools to connect and communicate with your clients and team members. Zoom is one of the video conferencing tools widely used to hold meetings and interviews.
As you continue to work from home, the right digital tools and software will help your daily performance. For example, if you often hold video meetings, find a high-end HD camera for your computer. This way you’ll ensure the best experience for others. Good equipment makes it easier for others to see and hear your voice during conference calls.
More importantly, master how to use various collaboration tools such as Asana, Clickup, Google Docs, etc. These tools are very useful in helping teams work together on projects remotely. They also save time that would have been spent sending the documents back and forth via email since teams can view, edit, and make comments on documents in real-time. Changes made to the documents are seen by other members immediately. Concisely, digital tools will help you better manage and monitor the progress of projects from home.
Step 4: Personalize the Space
Offices are now redesigned to resonate with the taste and preferences of employees. The designers request for input from the teams to ensure that the decorations are right. It would be best if you did the same on your home workspace. Add decorative touches and personal mementos to create a favorable working environment.
An aesthetically pleasing office space will also paint a positive image to other people when you hold video conference calls. Strive to make it as calming and professional as possible. Go the extra mile to purchase a humidifier to promote the air quality in the room. Check out this latest humidifier compilation to decide which model to buy and the specs to look out for when shopping. See tips here – houseweather.org.
Step 5: File your Documents Well
Numerous studies on employees’ productivity show that clutter increases anxiety, mentally drains you, and results in lost productivity due to procrastination. Papers are the main culprit when working from home. Do everything possible to ensure that the documents do not get too scattered on the desk.
Documents that you no longer need should be shredded to avoid creating a mess on the desk. You can also come up with an easy filling system or process to ensure that none of the important gets lost or is shredded by mistake. The files can either be kept in a folder rack or dedicated boxes.
Similar documents should be stored in the same box. For example, make sure that the financial reports are not missed up with the procurement documents. Otherwise, you will find yourself spending hours looking for a document, especially when doing an audit.
Step 6: Bring Nature to the Workspace
Green is one of the colors that is known to create a positive feeling in workspaces. Adding flowers in a vase inside your home office can truly lift your mood. The flowers will not only make the office beautiful but also improve the quality of air that you breathe as you continue to work.
Flowers in your office also help your eyes relax by creating a visual variety when you take a break. Make sure that you water it to promote its growth and to continue enjoying the benefits. If you don’t want to do such tasks, you can go for resilient plant varieties such as the green cactus.
Step 7: Use a Scent
A good scent in your home office that matches your mood can positively impact your productivity and efficiency. Essential oils have been proven to work magic, especially when stressed or feeling like giving up. A good example if peppermint, which can give you an immense energy boost. Rosemary can increase your focus and concentration, while the sweet orange scent will reduce your anxiety.
Please choose one or all of them to make your workspace more ideal. Be sure to check for information on how to use them well to get the best results. For example, look for ideas on where to place them to ensure even distribution of the scent.
Conclusion
In conclusion, use the above seven tips to make your workspace at home more friendly and productive. Arrange your space ergonomically, add items that are beautiful and meaningful, leverage online tools to enhance productivity, and create a space that enhances your senses.
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