With working from home being the status quo for the foreseeable, here are 10 tips from Reincubate to get your home office set up for max productivity
An actual desk
Having a desk to work at is important for a number of reasons– the first being that if you’re committed to working from home, you need to section off part of your space for work. It doesn’t need to be big, but creating a designated workspace is vital for creating a distinction between work and free time.
If possible, set up your work station near a window, not only for the vitamin D, but also to make sure you’re well lit on your calls. If you don’t have the option to sit near a window, invest in better lighting to upgrade your setup. A key light is the best option here for video call lighting.
More screen space
If you’re currently working on a laptop, getting hold of an external monitor will significantly improve your working experience, with studies suggesting a bigger screen can lead to a 30% increase in productivity.
For maximum screen space, keep your laptop open to use dual screen, or tuck your laptop out of sight to maximise desk space.
Look your best on video calls
Now that many of us aren’t seeing our colleagues in real life, virtual meetings are essential. These are important, not just for getting work done, but for maintaining work relationships, and reducing isolation.
To get the best possible picture, you’d need a DSLR camera and setup, which could be expensive and take up significant desk space. However, you can get a pro-quality setup with less clutter and cost by using Camo, an app that lets you use the amazing camera on your iPhone as a webcam.
Are you sitting comfortably?
If you’re spending 8+ hours working at a desk everyday, and you’re likely to continue working from home in the future, investing in a supportive chair is a sound choice. Focus on finding a chair that’s comfortable to use, and make sure to change positions and get up and move around frequently.
Put distractions on mute
Working from home can be distracting. If you’re sharing your living space while trying to work from home, investing in some noise cancelling headphones can help you concentrate on your own business, rather than everyone else’s.
Get organised
If you’ve got more than a couple of things on the go at any one time, it can be harder to keep track of everything when working from home than when you’re in the office. Planning and productivity apps like Trello can help you increase productivity at home and collaborate with colleagues remotely.
Make your voice heard
By this point, we’ve all been on a call that’s been disrupted by various audio issues; whether it’s distracting background noise, inadvertent robot voice, or audio simply not working. To safeguard against these issues, you could invest in a professional microphone for better audio quality.
Photo by Andrea Davis from Pexels
Add plants
Plants don’t just make your home office look more Instagrammable, they’re proven to increase productivity, with one ten-year study concluding plants offer a 15% boost in productivity. To reap the productivity-boosting benefits of plants, choose a plant that is easy to look after, and make sure it’s visible from your desk.
Improve your connection
Wi-Fi is the lifeblood of remote working. Make sure your Wi-Fi is as good as it can be by positioning the router close to your workspace, keeping it updated, and making sure it’s password protected to prevent Wi-Fi thieves from hogging your bandwidth.
Clutter-free keyboard and mouse
If you’re limited by space in your new setup, switching to a wireless mouse and keyboard can be a great way to declutter your workspace. They can be more of a hindrance than a help if they don’t hold a charge or periodically disconnect, so it’s worth spending more on a quality product.
