How To Setup Your Home Office: The Essentials

HOW TO SETUP YOUR HOME OFFICE THE ESSENTIALS

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, more people are working from home; many of these people are working from home for the first time and because there was no plan ahead of time for this, many people now buy furniture online in Nigeria especially in states under lockdown just to be able to meet up with their daily work requirements in comfortable office chairs while working from home.

Working from the comfort of your home may sound like a dream come true but if you don’t have all the right elements for your home office, it can have a detrimental effect on your productivity and even your health and happiness.

Regardless of the size and layout of your space, there are some elements that can help make it a more productive space.

Working from home offers many advantages, including the flexibility of setting your own schedule, saving time and money by eliminating your daily commute, and allowing you to start a business with minimal overhead.

The success of a home office requires creating an office space that promotes efficiency in a non-traditional work environment.

Setting up a home office requires a significant change if you are used to working in a formal office setting. It takes a bit of planning and a bit of effort to make sure this space maximizes your efficiency and productivity.

One or two things can happen when you begin to set up an office in your home. You will either underestimate what you will require to get your office up and running or you will overestimate.

You can quickly find yourself struggling in either case. What you will need depends on the type of work you do. Here is a quick checklist of some important things required by the home office:

  • Office space
  • Adequate lighting
  • Work desk
  • Ergonomic office chair
  • Computer and high-speed internet access
  • Surge protector and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
  • File cabinet and fire-safe box

#1. Create a dedicated workspace

A dedicated workspace ideally means a closed-off room of your house, with a desk where you can focus on work and only work. In this situation, it is just too easy to get distracted hence; distractions should be kept to the barest minimum.

You should have the ability to physically block off distractions and other areas of your house. Psychologically, this will help you feel like you are actually going to work rather than just another room in your house.

This will help increase your productivity and also help you disconnect from work when you close work for the day and leave the designated room.

The ideal space for an office in your home should be free from work-time distractions and have a door; if possible both of which make it easy to divide work time and space with your personal time and space to create a greater work/life balance.

If you plan on setting up your home office outdoors or lack adequate space indoors, our foldable table and chair can help you realize your dream of working from home.

#2. Provide good lighting

The light in your office is essential, not only for your ability to clearly see your work but also for the entire mood and atmosphere. In case you are unable to get enough natural light in, consider installing artificial lighting that is sufficient and warm.

Working in a naturally lit environment will trigger critical signals in your endocrine system to help manage sleep, your moods, and your immune system. Full-spectrum bulbs are an alternative to natural lighting.

There are many benefits accrued to natural lighting. Good light can help you avoid eye strain and boost your mood. If your home office falls in a dark section of the house, get good quality lighting that will light both the room and your work area adequately.

#3. Get an Ergonomic office chair

The back issue is a risk that comes from working at home especially if you work on your computer all day. A comfortable office chair is one of the most important home office items.

Never underestimate the power of a good chair. When you work in the right chair with the required support, problems of back pain will be easily avoided. A comfortable, healthy way to work brings you a step closer to increased productivity.

There are a few reasons you should consider getting a good office chair. Not only are office chairs more comfortable than other chairs you might be using in your home, but they are also much easier on your back, ensuring that you minimize the risk of back problems later in life.

Good office chairs will also offer armrests and headrests to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible while you are working.

You can actually buy furniture online in Nigeria. All you have to do is go through our various furniture categories, make your selections, add to the cart, and checkout to complete your order.

Choose a chair that offers ergonomic support and adjustable features. If you choose to use a traditional desk, it is important to have an ergonomic office chair.

Sitting stresses the structures of the spine so to avoid developing back problems, it is critical to have a chair that supports your body shape and evokes proper posture. Our well-designed office chairs will let you sit in a balanced position. [Read: 7 Fantastic Mesh Chairs Under N170k To Consider For Your Office Setup]

#4. Make use of adjustable work desk

Sitting at a desk all day long is detrimental to your health. To avoid health issues, you need a work desk that can be adjusted to different heights. This way, you can switch easily from sitting to standing whenever you want. You can get this from us at an affordable price.

Though there are different types of work desks available, your choice of desk depends solely on your line of work.

You can choose between a traditional work desk and an adjustable desk if you don’t want to sit all day. Whatever your choice is, we are here to duly deliver to your doorstep.

If you are unable to free up enough space to set up a work desk and an ergonomic chair, a foldable table and chair will do but we recommend that you purchase our external lumbar supports to protect your back if you intend to work for a stretch of hours.

If you also like to alternate between sitting and standing to reduce back pain, you can place a Varidesk on your work table.

#5. Make use of a good computer with a good internet access

Only a few people can actually get their work done without making use of a computer. Select your type of computer system based on your work requirement.

The type of computer you choose has a huge impact on your overall productivity and success. If your work requires that you stay put at your desk while working on multiple projects, you need a desktop computer. If you can work from different parts of your office, make use of a laptop.

Regardless of the type of computer you use; desktop, laptop, or multiple devices, you will need to ensure that your internet provider is fast and reliable.

Slow internet will not only slow you down but also offer you an opportunity to be distracted by other things.

#6. Get a file cabinet

File cabinets help to keep your work surface and home office tidy by storing important documents and files away securely. They are available in different sizes and we can also manufacture them based on your specific request.

Another alternative to this is to buy a work desk with lockable drawers. This can also be a space management technique.

Working remotely is a lot harder than we can imagine. It is quite easy to blur the lines between the home and the office without the structure of a normal workday. With numerous distractions at home, there is a high risk of being unproductive.

To be productive, you need to get it right. To get it right, you need to map out an uncomplicated plan that works best for you. For this plan to work for you, the following rules need to be adhered to strictly:

#1. Create a schedule to maintain regular hours

It makes sense to create a schedule that helps you maintain regular working hours. Setting clear guidelines for how many hours a day you work helps to maintain a work-life balance.

Try to ensure your schedule works for how you work best. Learn to work when you are most productive if your company allows it.

It can be difficult to establish a good work-life balance when working remotely. Sometimes you get so caught up in what you are doing and lose track of time. There is a dire need to choose a time to end your workday.

A lot of discipline is required when working remotely and it is not quite hard to develop this discipline. When something does not work, make adjustments where you need to.

Workers in a home office are more likely to overwork themselves than those in a traditional workspace. Your work schedule should involve one or two work-free days to enable you to rest and engage in other activities not related to work.

#3. Plan ahead and set goals

Having goals gives you something to work towards each day. Setting objectives ahead of time will give you something to constantly strive for. To avoid wasting lots of valuable time; plan a day or week ahead if you can.

Check your schedule and a to-do list at the beginning of each week to plan what you need to achieve. This will no doubt help you stay on top of your game. Planning makes work less stressful.

Nonetheless, you must be flexible enough to be able to make last-minute adjustments to your schedule as a result of unexpected developments.

#4. Plan breaks and takes them

Plan regular breaks throughout the day and take them. This is really good for productivity. When you take breaks when necessary, you come back to work feeling refreshed.

#5. Avoid social media

Social media can be a huge distraction and is capable of stealing lots of valuable time meant for productive work. Avoid social media while working. Do everything you can to resist the urge to take a quick look except when taking a break from work.

To make this easier for you, log out from all social media accounts during work hours unless your job requires that you make use of social media from time to time.

#6. Manage clutter

A messy desk can increase stress, sap energy, and lower productivity. Your desk should be well organized so that you find what you need easily. Place pens, paperclips, and other important materials within reach.

Doing all these guarantees you a more productive life working from home.

CREDITS