The emergency of the coronavirus has made remote work no longer an option to choose, but a reality to accept for many. For this reason, many are looking for tips on how to stay productive and motivated while working from home. So, whether you are an employee or a freelancer, working remotely requires dedicated time to learn new routines and a new approach.
Working from home can be not easy, but it brings many advantages that you can use from day one. Saving time, reducing expenses on commuting, and improving quality of life are some of the advantages of working away from home.
In some instances, however, working from home can turn out to be a boring experience as well as it can bring the feeling of loneliness. That’s why this guide can help you successfully adapt to working from home in the best way, whether you run a business or work for someone else. Here are some points to consider in order to effectively optimize your work from home.
Find the best spot for work
Regardless of the size or location of where you’ll make your home office, identifying it as a dedicated work area is crucial. Making it a comfortable, cozy, and practical place with enough space will bring good results to your work processes.
A well-located home office will create an environment conducive to work, which will help you achieve success on a daily basis. You should make sure there’s enough space and light, you have no distraction there, etc. There can also be small things to improve your space–having proper air conditions in your room with humidifiers like HoMedics, having enough natural and artificial light, having no distracting noises or smells, etc.
If you don’t have a backyard or garage and/or your space is very limited, you can still set up an effective home office by making creative use of your available area. Try to find a place or places where your work life doesn’t interfere too much with your home life and where it is as unobtrusive as possible.
Turn a room into an office
This is the perfect setup because it’s more comfortable to have a dedicated space in the house! This will allow you to be quiet and protected from noise. Clearly delimiting the workspace from private life gives the feeling of going “to the office” and thus allows for better concentration.
To set up your office, first, choose the furniture that will be the centerpiece. Installed in the middle of the room or attached to a wall, designer or classic, are some of the options to choose from. Next, don’t forget the surrounding amenities. Everything you use regularly should be easily accessible from your desk.
Choose a chair and desk
Choosing the most ergonomic chair and desk is an important factor in maximizing your comfort and well-being when working from home. Otherwise, back pain, neck pain, or wrist pain will immediately remind you about not a bad decision made by not taking these two aspects into account. Ergonomic chairs are designed to conform to the contours of the body and maximize comfort during the long periods most workers spend sitting at their desks. Buying a desk and a chair are just as essential as a mattress – in the end, you’ll probably spend just as many hours there.
But how to choose a chair that is really comfortable when there are many models of chairs available? How do you know if the chair is really comfortable? A chair may seem comfortable after sitting for a few moments and cause discomfort and inconvenience after a few hours.
The first point to evaluate when choosing an ergonomic chair is the position of your feet. They must be perfectly flat on the floor, i.e. from the toe to the heel. The height of the chair should follow the 90-degree rule. In other words, the chair should be adjusted so that your thighs and the rest of your legs are positioned at a 90-degree angle, as are your feet with your legs. Your lower back should be well-supported by the back of the chair. If this is not possible, get a lumbar cushion specially designed for this purpose. An ill-fitting backrest can cause your posture to adapt unnaturally or increase strain on your shoulders and back.
Choose software for remote work
Choosing the most suitable software means increasing your productivity and ability to cooperate with your coworkers or clients. There are online tools that support various fields of work, from the fields of design, marketing, law, accounting, and administration to more general fields.
Ideally, in addition to these platforms, you should have a program that allows remote access to your office computers.
Wrap-up
Working remotely has a lot of benefits but you need to find the right approach to make it effective and comfortable for you. It requires your active participation to create the right space and the right flow. Thus, before you start working remotely, Consider the tips mentioned here like making sure your environment is good for working and you have all the needed tools for completing tasks smoothly.
