Whether you’re working from home by choice or by necessity, creating the right office environment is the key to doing your best work harmoniously at home.
While many of your home-office needs will depend on the kind of work you’re doing and the space you have available to you, there are a few things that every home office shouldn’t be without.
Below are the 5 essentials you need to make your work-from-home office the ideal space to do your best work.
1. A Designated Workspace
Whatever kind of work you’re doing, a designated space to do it in is absolutely essential. Designating a space for work will allow you to shift your mental focus and get into work mode by “going to work” just as you would with an office outside the home.
You’ll also be able to relax more fully at the end of the workday by leaving it behind. What your designated space actually looks like will depend on your resources and living situation, but should go beyond a chair at the kitchen table or a spot at the coffee table.
The ideal designated workspace is a separate room closed off to the rest of the house that you use only for work. But if you can’t designate a whole room, try claiming a wall, corner, or partitioned section of a room to create an office space.
Consider the lighting, power, and ventilation requirements that you will need. Once you’ve claimed your designated space, you can create your ideal work environment by adding plants, stimulating décor, and even good-smelling incense or diffused essential oils.
Staying connected in your home office is also paramount to maintaining productivity and smooth communication. Among the most significant considerations is ensuring that you have a reliable and fast internet connection. Options like Frontier internet plans offer consistent and high-speed connectivity.
Remember, just as you would want the most reliable tools and equipment in a traditional office, your home office should also have a dependable online connection. This not only supports video conferencing and data transfer but also ensures you can access cloud resources and collaborate virtually without hiccups.
2. The Right Desk for the Job
Your desk is the hub of your home office and choosing the right one can make all the difference. When choosing from the many different styles and sizes of desks, consider your individual needs.
Will you be working on a laptop, desktop, or with ink and paper? Will you be using multiple computer monitors? Are you drawing or drafting? Do you have a lot of tools that you will need at hand? This can help you determine whether you want a desk or drafting table, lots of drawers and storage, or multiple surface levels.
3. Comfortable Seating
Whatever your job, there’s a good chance that you are going to spend a lot of your workday sitting down. Your desk chair should be comfortable and supportive.
When choosing the right chair, shop for comfort first, not style and price. The ideal chair is supportive with good cushion, adjustable height, and helps you maintain proper posture. In addition to your desk chair, you may want to consider adding a recliner or armchair to your office as a place to read or take a break from your computer screen.
4. A Good Filing and Organizational System
Whether you’re working with paper or electronic files, a good organizational system is key to your productivity. For paper files, a file cabinet or file boxes will be much more efficient and tidy than shoving them into desk drawers.
For electronic files, create a labeling system that allows you to locate them quickly and easily. Consider the other storage needs of your office. Would a bookshelf or cabinet help keep your space clean and organized?
5. Office Stationery
Just because you’re working from home, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the luxury of a well-stocked supply closet full of extra stationary. In fact, stocking up on bulk office supplies is cost effective and ensures that you’re not scrambling around looking for a spare paper clip. A basic list of office supply essentials includes
- Pens, pencils, and highlighters
- Sticky notes
- Legal pads or notebooks
- Printer paper
- Binders and folders
- Stapler and extra staples
- Scissors
- Paperclips
These 5 essentials will get you well on your way to your perfect work-from-home office, but keep in mind that you can keep fine-tuning your space over time. If you aim for a balance between focus and comfort in your space, you will find that you are not only productive, but you can’t wait to go to work each day.
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