_3 Adjustments You May Need To Make In Your Work From Home Space

We are now in the 4th quarter of 2020 and for some, it has now been several months since working from home became the “new normal”.

Those with larger homes and living spaces were more fortunate, as they converted extra rooms into a home office, or carved out spaces for themselves in the corner of their living rooms, bedrooms or guest rooms.

However, if you live in a smaller apartment you may have had limited options and had to settle for working from your sofa, bed, or kitchen counter.

No matter your circumstance, this article is going to help you with ideas on the major and minor adjustments that you can make to revamp your “work from home space” to ensure you continue delivering high-quality work in a comfortable, enriching, and distraction-free environment.

1. Do you have proper lighting?
If you notice your eyes straining or your eyes feel overly tired in the months you have been working from home, then it may be time to change or rearrange your setup so that you have sufficient lighting in your workspace. You can do this by simply choosing a sunny spot near a window to move your work table to or incorporate overhead lighting; by adding a floor or table lamp. This will create a well-lit desk and you will be able to work longer and safely.

2. Is your chair comfortable?
Have you been hunching over your laptop? Is your back and neck sore at the end of the day? These are signs that your chair is uncomfortable and you may need to upgrade to one that provides proper back support.

However, before going out to buy one, try out these recommended adjustments to see if they will alleviate discomfort:

a) prop your laptop up on books to create the right height to minimise a sore neck
b) add a pillow or cushions to the back of the chair to prevent your back from arching
c) fold a blanket and sit on it to make the chair more comfortable, this will help you sit longer
d) move to a makeshift ‘standing desk’ - you can use your kitchen counter or ironing board to allow your back to relax

Whatever option you go for, ensure that the setup keeps your back in alignment, to prevent you from bending to see the screen.

3. Is your workspace inviting? Personalise it
It may be difficult to get into work mode whilst you are at home with distractions like the warm bed and cosy sofa beckoning. But you can make your workspace even more inviting if you decorate it or inject some personality into it, just as you do in the office. Little things like shifting a house plant from another room to where you work from, or borrowing a piece of art from another space can provide mental triggers that you are now at ‘work’ and may help improve your productivity.

Clutter is also very distracting and reduces efficiency, and simply getting rid of anything unnecessary can provide a major mental and emotional boost. As you spend a lot of time at your work station, you can boost concentration, by playing some soft, non-distracting music while you work to get you into the zone.

These adjustments are easy to incorporate into your work from home space and we hope that you will try them out and see the difference it makes to your productivity.

You may also be interested in this article on the Knight Frank website - Working From Home: 7 Ways To Not Go Stir-Crazy