The ability to work from home can be a blessing, especially if you do not want to be out there during a health crisis. The past year has exposed that plenty of jobs involve tasks that can be done remotely. This has led to questions about the relevance of offices for certain jobs.
In 2020, offices had to shut down as part of the preventive protocols needed to impede the spread of the disease. This caused around 558 million workers all over the world to work from home.
Now that a significant number of workers have operated this way for over a year, plenty are considering working from home post-pandemic. If you are one of those who would prefer working from home post-pandemic, then there are a few things you should know before setting up your home office.
Is Working From Home As Good As Advertised?
If we analyze it at face value, working from home seems like the best thing to ever happen to office employees. But people tend to forget that working from home still involves work. There is too much focus on the “home” aspect and not on the “work” aspect.
True enough, working from home can save you time and effort. But it may also lead you to experience work burnout because you may have no boundaries between your work life and your home life.
You may even concentrate less because you are dealing with responsibilities at home while trying to complete your work deliverables simultaneously. Indeed, working from home can be a joy, but it is far from perfect.
One of the immediate ways to counter these remote work issues is by creating your home office. With a home office, you have a designated area specially tailored for your work. This can help you create better boundaries between your work life and your home life.
But before creating your workspace at home, there are a few things you should take note of.
Consider These Factors
Your home office will be the headquarters of everything related to your work. With that, you must know what to watch out for to make the most out of your remote work experience.
Location
Your location matters. You must choose a room that cannot be accessed by many people. This can be a corner of your bedroom, or an extra bedroom originally intended for guests.
Also, take note of the noise in your house and your neighborhood. You would want a quiet home office to help you concentrate better. With that, you must choose a location that is ideally quiet and exclusive.
By choosing the right location, you are potentially canceling out possible distractions and inconveniences. So choose wisely.
Privacy
The location you choose should also have some form of privacy. Some work details might be meant for only you and no one else. Make sure that these pieces of information stay private. Choose a location that preserves your privacy.
Space
Also, consider the floor space of your room. When working from home, you are bound to have office equipment in your house. With that, your workplace should be spacious enough to accommodate your equipment while leaving ample room for you to move around.
With decent space, you are avoiding the feeling of being too cooped up in your home office. Having a spacious work office is essentially one way to preserve your overall well-being while working.
Equipment
Choosing your equipment matters too. You have the full autonomy to choose your equipment. This includes desks, chairs, and computers. As a general rule, always choose equipment that is known for its durability.
Always be sure to get ergonomic equipment to avoid any pains and issues such as postural scoliosis. Be sure to check with scoliosis experts to learn how to treat or avoid this type of scoliosis.
With good equipment, you are making sure that your workflow remains smooth. So do your research before buying any equipment.
Ventilation and Lighting
You will be spending a significant amount of time in your home office. So be sure that the room you choose as your workplace has good ventilation. With proper ventilation, you are making sure that the air inside your home office is of good quality.
Also, take note of the lighting. You want to have plenty of natural light during the day. This will help you save costs on energy.
Indeed, working from home will pose a few challenges here and there. But it can prove to be beneficial when done the right way. Make sure to take the necessary steps when creating a home office. Your workspace at home may just decide how well you perform at work.
