Setting Up A Simple, Effective Home Office
23.03.2022
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many of us have been lucky enough to continue working from home. But have you set up your home office in the best and simplest way possible? First ask this question to yourself: “How much home office space do I really need?” Don’t forget that you don’t need a huge area to maintain your productivity. A standing desk, a ‘double-screen’ arrangement, a massive luxurious office chair and shiny tech equipment are actually just “nice to have” rather than essential. A good office just needs to be a place where you can focus and get some work done without being distracted. First thing to do is chill out don’t get carried away when creating yourself that perfect home office. Focus on avoiding distractions. Let’s talk about what gear you actually need to have.
Desks and Tables
A good desk or table is literally the foundation of your productivity. You can get all the cool hardware many can buy, but if you don’t have a decent surface to put them on, you won’t benefit from them! If you’re a handyman, you can DIY your desk or table from various materials in various shapes and sizes. If your place is not that big, consider using a folding table. It’s versatile and you can fold it down when you’re done working to create more space. Another option is to buy an adjustable standing desk – it’s a great choice for those who don’t like sitting all day long, and may even help to avoid back pain. But keep it simple and don’t overspend unnecessarily.
Office Chairs
Your chair is your throne when it comes to working efficiently. Buying one is a highly personal decision. Every person’s anatomy is different, so it’s really difficult to recommend one chair to suit everyone’s needs. My suggestion here is to go to stores yourself if you can and try out a few chairs for yourself, or failing that buy one online with a proper returns policy.
Wi-Fi Routers and Internet Providers
Your internet connection is the make-or-break of successfully work from home. Consider upgrading your router if you need more adequate wi-fi coverage – this often depends on the size of the place where you live. Also, if there are more users in the house while you’re working, choose a provider and a plan that can support multiple users at the same time with enough bandwidth. If you’re unhappy with your internet provider or your data plan isn’t enough for your home office standards, it’s time to change it or update your data plan.
Headphones
A nice pair of noise-cancelling headphones can boost your productivity to no end. If I had to choose only one item to make a great home office, I’d definitely choose this one. Aside from the productivity benefits, it’s also a great investment if you enjoy listening to music while you work. There so many options on the market. I recommend that you pick a budget-friendly wireless pair.
Tech Hardware
Now you have a desk, a chair, a good internet connection and great headphones, we can start talking about any technical equipment you’re going to need. Maybe your boss sent you home with a work laptop or computer. If so, great, we can cross this off the list. Depending on your work, an external monitor can often give great benefits. Especially for more high-tech jobs like video editing or programming, a separate screen will make your workflow more efficient. For a more ergonomic laptop experience, you could purchase a laptop stand. This will elevate your laptop so you don’t need to crane your neck and back downwards. An extra wireless keyboard and mouse is a must if you work long periods. Even though most workplaces are becoming more and more digital, most of us still need to use printers and scanners at some point, so make sure you have this kit as well. There are many inexpensive options nowadays which can do both jobs.
Accessories
Depending on your personality you can make your desk more colorful and inspiring by adding a couple of little accessories. Some of these are essentials, like a pencil box, a power extension cord, post-its or notepads. I also strongly recommend hanging a pinboard on your wall to pin important items on it in a visually engaging way.
I think we’re finally ready to set up our home office or study area! Don’t forget that you don’t need fancy stuff to be productive. The only thing you need is a space that helps you focus. If you’re looking for more advice give us a follow. And share this guide with your friends who need advice on building their own home office space too!