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Due to the pandemic, so many of us are working from home and may be for awhile. According to a recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, 31 percent of workers who were employed in early March were working at home by the first week of April.
When people hear that I live in Hawaii and work from home, they start asking about how often I’m at the beach with my laptop. The answer is never. Beach time is for fun and work time is for my electric rising desk, 32” curved monitor, and wireless keyboard with number pad. My body and mind have both been conditioned to know that when I sit (or stand) at my desk, it’s work time. That means when I walk away from the desk, it’s my time.
If you’re looking to find the best home office setup for productivity, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Make your workspace comfortable but productive
Having a comfortable workspace is imperative and this isn’t to say it needs to be a plush sofa where you put your feet up. A comfortable workspace is ergonomically correct with ample lighting and ideally has some privacy. You should have a desk or solid work surface that is big enought to hold things comfortably. Keep cords and chargers organized so they don’t get tangled — or trip up the kids when they come visit you “at work.”
My desk allows me to sit or stand giving me the best of both worlds — when I need to stretch and stand, I can, but I can also dig in for the long haul while seated. The best home office chair is one that supports your back during your workday and keeps your feet planted firmly on the ground. You shouldn’t have to crane your neck or hunch over to read what’s on the monitor.
Your monitor should be set to eye level and the keyboard at a comfortable level so that your wrists and forearms are parallel to the floor. As I mentioned, I have a supersized monitor that allows me to see things clearly and also allows me to keep several files open on the desktop at once. This helps my productivity from having to bounce back and forth between tabs or screens.
To really make things ergonomically pleasant, start with good basic gear. “Invest in a good mouse and keyboard. If you’re on a laptop, then a mouse is a must because it just makes your life so much easier,” Chris Brenchley, who runs a recruiting company, told Mom.com. I agree with Chris — I am much more effective using a bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
Add your own personal touches to boost creativity – but don't overdo it
I don’t believe a workstation should be filled with a ton of personal stuff, but that isn’t to say you shouldn’t make it personal. Let’s face it, there are days when you don’t really want to be working. At least I know that’s true for me and I don’t think I’m the only one. My mousepad has several of my favorite pictures of my son on it. I also love crystals so I have what is a repurposed ashtray from my grandfather with some pretty crystals in it. It helps keep me grounded.
Maybe you want a plant or favorite artwork from your child, or a framed poster to hang above your desk. Your favorite scented candle can help relax you, and a stack of your favorite books and magazines nearby can spark creativity (as long as you don’t take too much time reading them.) It doesn’t have to be a lot.
In fact, limiting the amount of personal stuff on your desk will help you remain focused on the task at hand. Having these things simply reminds you of why you’re working. They shouldn’t be cluttering your desk to the point that you can’t find the file you need for that next Zoom call.
Keep it separate: Make your home office a work-only space
Making your workspace a work-only space will depend on how much space you really have in your home. Not everyone can have a spare room converted into an office for their workspace. In fact, my own home office is set off of my living room. I’ve been thinking about converting the closet in the living room into a built-in workspace but the fact is I’d still be in the living room. Rest assured that while this isn’t ideal, it is doable.
While my workspace is in my living room, the actual workspace is one desk and a side runner file cabinet. On my desk, other than the couple of personal items, is only work items. This is my dedicated space for work. My bills don’t come to my desk, my son’s homework isn’t done on my desk. It’s all of 16 square feet, but every bit of that is devoted to work. Why? Because when you work from home it can be so easy to let life spill into work and work spill into life. That’s happened to me and I refuse to fall into that trap of unproductivity again.
No matter how small your workspace is, you’re better off if you can label it as a work-only zone. The great thing about that is when you leave the space, you’re in a personal time zone which lets you focus on family and fun.
