But, with some creativity and improvisation, I created a high functioning home office that I enjoy 'going to work' to every morning.
So, if you've been working off your bed or couch and have now decided that it's time to set up a home office of your own, take a look below at my 4 easy steps to creating a more productive and professional work space.
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Goodbye bed. I need a desk.
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How to Set Up Your Home Office in 4 Easy Steps
1. Find a space in your home that you can use
You're trying to set up a spot, where you don't need to clear off your lap top and papers at the end of the days. So, working on kitchen counters or on outdoor deck furniture is not what you should be going for.
Is there a quiet, unused room in the house that you can use to set up your home office? Ideally, not a common room used by everyone in the household. Perhaps you're lucky to have a study already. If not, maybe a guest room.When identifying your spot, can you envision yourself working there for 8 hours a day with minimal interruption?
Considering that there may be other family members who have taken up the available rooms for their work or study, you may need to get a bit more creative in locating a work spot for yourself.
For those in large houses, a formal living or dining room that does not get used much is an idea.
People have used their enclosed porches, basements, garages, laundry rooms, attics and even turned landings into home offices.
Least preferable spots for setting up your home office are family rooms and kitchens since other family members would probably use these spots a lot and cause distractions. Master bedrooms are another room that would be least preferable on my list. The lines between home and work are blurry when working from home. So, try to keep the rooms that you enjoy doing "home" things separate from the room that you need to do "work" things.
However, if you live in a small space or have no other options, you could turn a corner of one of your family room, kitchen or master bedroom into your designated work space.
Other considerations for your room are a room that has a door to give you privacy when you're at work and if possible, a room with some natural light.
When positioning your work space, try not sit with a window behind you. With the light behind you, you would appear dark in a teleconference.
2. Get the equipment you need
The first thing you require is a good size table and chair. If you don't already have a desk at home, look around your home and see what you can use.
A colleague who used a standing desk at work, has piled books on a bureau and placed her lap top on them to simulate a standing desk.
A dining chair could work as your desk chair, however, preferably choose a sturdy chair with arms. You may need to sit on cushions to get you to the right height. Stay away from deck chairs, bar stools, comfy arm chairs or your sofa. They will affect your posture in the long run.
Naturally, you nee your phone handy. If you have a landline, set it up on your desk so that it is within easy reach. If not, move your cellphone charging station to your work area.
Most people are working off of their personal or company lap tops. But, if you are accustomed to working on large and/or multiple monitors at work, then a lap top is going to drive you crazy.
Get yourself a monitor, key board, a mouse and mouse pad. I promise you that this will make a world of a difference. I set up my desk with a monitor as my primary screen and the lap top as my secondary screen. Position them so that they are both roughly at the same height.
Needless to say, you require good internet connection. This will ensure your good connectivity and save your hours of frustration when you fall off the Microsoft Teams Chat or cannot connect to your VPN. Check with your provider on the best options.
Do you normally scan document or print out hard copies at work? If so, get yourself a laser jet printer. I went back to the office and picked up my little office printer and scanner and brought them home with me.
While I was there, I also picked out all the office supplies that I required. Printer paper, pens, highlighters, my stapler, staples, calculator, envelopes, post-its. It may sound silly, but trust me, having everything that you require handy is the first step in getting your space comfortable and high-functioning.
I work a lot with paper and documents. So, I also brought home a lot of my work files. Along with blank file folders, hanging folders and a desktop folder organizer. Organization is key in your new home office. Try and re-purpose furniture in your house that you can use to stay organized. Maybe shelves from another room or an unused nightstand. I turned an empty banker's box into a place to store my hanging folders easily.
And finally, if you are sharing your work space, head sets are a must.
3. Consider ergonomics
If your work from home space isn't ergonomically set up, it can lead to back, hip, neck and shoulder problems, including fatigue, eye strain and headaches. Now you don't want that, do you?
When you sit you in your chair, sit back and relax such that your hips are against the back of your chair and there is a natural curve in your spine.
You can roll up a towel and place it in the curve of your back to give your back support.
You should be able to place your feet flat on the floor floor so that your thighs are parallel to the floor. If your chair doesn't allow you to adjust the height of the chair, sit on cushions to bring you to the right height. If you cannot place your feet flat on the floor, use a small step stool for your feet, or a pile of magazines piled to the right height.
If your chair is hard and uncomfortable, a good ergonomic seat cushion will help. There are variety of seat wedges that push your pelvis into the right tilt and promote good posture. I use the SITTS 4 inch wedge cushion. It's great when I sit on the floor for my yoga poses and works just as well on a work chair.
Your screen should be positioned at an arm's distance from your.
The top of the screen should be in line with your eyes.
Keep your chin tucked and don't crane your head forward.
Your shoulders should be relaxed and not hunched up.
Good lighting is very important. A good desk light, along with an overhead light should do the trick. Also, adjust the back lighting on both your monitors to a comfortable setting that matches both screens.
If you talk on the phone a lot, avoid cradling your phone between your ear and shoulder and use headsets instead. Your neck will thank you.
4. Beautify your space
Now that you have a functional work space, it's time to add the final touches and make it something that you enjoyed coming to each morning.
Bring nature indoors by adding some plants to your room or fresh flowers to your desk.
Some artwork on your walls or funny or inspirational quotes that you can easily see will help elevate your mood on those challenging days at work (Yes, we all have them!). A scented candle, pretty drapes or a colorful cushion, all enliven the room and make it inviting.
Bright colors invigorate me, so I introduced pops of color with bright cushions, flowers and desk accessories. But if you prefer pastels and lights to create a calm and soothing work environment, then go with that. In the end, dress up your space with what delights all your senses.
Hopefully, this article gives you some ideas to set up your own highly functioning home office until the pandemic lifts and we are all able to return to the office.
