How to Effectively Work From Home
Working from home may seem like a great idea at first but without the proper setup, you may see your work productivity and output diminish. It is imperative that you find out what works for you and what doesn’t as quickly as possible as to not weigh on your conscience and psyche. In this post, I will try and help you navigate the waters of working from home.
Divider
Working from home rocks! Right? Wrong. If you are not properly set up, work that you once enjoyed can become cumbersome. The first thing I would suggest to anyone starting out is to set up a designated area that you will work in, for me that is a completely separate room that has a door I can shut. When I enter this room, I know it is time to work. When I leave it, I know work is over.
What I realized over time, is that if you combine your living area, relaxing area and work area all in one, eventually it starts weighing on you. The body has a tough time adjusting and never actually gets to a place of relaxation and decompression when the workday is finally over. If you do not have the luxury of having an office or a separate room to work in, I have seen people use dividers like the ones listed here to divide the room as they wish. I have seen this work wonders, once the day is over they can tuck everything behind a nice divider and not have to look at their work until the next business day or until they are needed back at work.
Office Chair & Desk
Working from your couch or your dining room chair works for a little while. Eventually, after logging 7-8 hour days, 5 days a week, that chair quickly becomes uncomfortable. Investing in a proper chair like the ones listed here will be an investment that your back will thank you for in the future.
A good desk is also very key, you will need something big enough to hold your hardware but also enough space to keep important papers and notepads. The worst thing is getting a desk that is too small, you can find some good desks here on Amazon for a relatively cheap investment that will go to bettering your work/home balance.
Laptop Stand
Laptops are great for the agile worker but if you plan on staying put, I would suggest getting a second monitor that can be adjusted to eye level. Looking down at your laptop over time will dramatically impact your neck and I can tell you with certainty that no one wants to look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame in their mid 30’s. I personally use this laptop stand to adjust my laptop height and it is very well built and stable. I am typing this article and using it while you read this!
Keyboard & Mouse
If you are going to invest in a laptop stand then the next best thing is a good mouse and keyboard. Investing in a keyboard and mouse comes down to individual preference. I have personally used this Logi keyboard and mouse and it has not disappointed.
Now, these are only a few things that I would suggest to anyone looking to migrate to a home office. Obviously, everyone is different. Finding what works for you is very important, that way you can experience the best of both worlds, working from home and being productive.
Don’t forget that staying physically active, taking occasional walks, and maintaining a healthy diet is important to productivity when working from home.
Best,
AG
This blog contains affiliate links to products I am promoting from my own experience.