Working from Home: many of us have spent a while doing it, but this doesn’t necessarily mean we always know to do it well. If you’ve often found your at-home productivity stuttering, the work-from-home (WFH) Space itself could be to blame, as it might not quite tick enough of the right boxes.
So, what are those boxes? Here is an overview of the essentials – and how you could go about making sure your home office has them.
A Distraction-Free Space
That doesn’t just mean zero distractions for you, crucial though that would be to ensuring that your productivity is not thrown off-course. It also means nothing awkward in the background that could show up on someone else’s screen and embarrass you as you take a video conference call.
Your attic could be a great place to work, since your kids might not exactly stumble into it by accident – and, with the award-winning loft boarding service from Instaloft, attics can be effectively purposed as offices.
A Laptop
Whether that laptop should be a Mac or Windows device could heavily depend on what type of work you do. Of course, Windows laptops are generally cheaper, and will suffice for low-key tasks – but, for heavy-duty creative work like graphics or video editing, a Mac could easily justify its higher cost.
Luxe Digital recommends a MacBook Pro above all other WFH computers, but also advocates an Acer computer if you would prefer a budget option.
Ergonomic Furniture
In essence, your home office desk must give you enough space on which to rest your computer and external monitor, if indeed you need one. You could consider a standing desk, which would make it easier for you to stretch your legs from time to time.
As for the computer chair, you want something that will protect your back while preventing long-term injury – making a high-end office chair an especially good choice for keeping you comfortable over a lengthy and punishing workday.
Proper Lighting
To prevent eyestrain from setting in, you should make sure your workspace is sufficiently well-lit. It’s up to you whether the lighting comes from a natural or electric source, but the former could obviously help you to save on your energy bills.
What if it wouldn’t be practical for you to tap into a natural source of illumination, such as by positioning yourself near a window? You could just opt for an overhead lighting fixture and, if you feel the need, supplement it with a floor lamp or table lamp, as Real Simple suggests.
Good Internet Connectivity
There’s so much jargon attached to different internet plans that you could struggle to decide which of them to choose. However, Computerworld suggests that you aim for an internet speed of at least 50Mbps – and set your sights especially high if many members of your household will be online at the same time.
You should also check that you have modern equipment supporting at least the 802.11n standard for wireless connectivity – through 802.11ac would be a much more desirable goal.
