With the current lockdown and the stay at home call, virtually everyone who can is working from home. This has created the need for a dedicated workspace at home that one can use comfortably without family distractions.
Now, not many homes come with a provision for a study or home office, so if you fall into this category, it calls for innovation. Here are a few steps to help you create a nice and functional home office.
Assess your needs
What type of work are you engaged in and what type of resources do you need? Assess the type and size of equipment you plan to use in answer to this question. Does your work require ample storage space? How about the size of your desk?
This is your first step, so visualize and put it down on paper before identifying the right space in your house to set up your home office. Once you know your needs, it is easy to isolate a space and design it to suit your work.
Use available resources
If a spare room is not available, look at other spaces around the home. This could include the dining room, the garage, and the bedroom if it is large enough, or even the patio. What you are looking for is a space you can work from comfortably.
If you are working on spreadsheets or need a large surface area, the dining table will do the trick. In short, see what is available at home that you can improvise and use instead of buying new. You might find yourself deciding between PTAC heat pump vs electric heat if the space you choose needs heating.
Isolate and designate your workspace
To create a true office-like environment, set your space away from traffic areas that could distract you while working. It will also enhance your work mood by replicating the office feel.
The key is in knowing what distracts you and setting your workspace to avoid it. Choose a spot that inspires and boosts your morale to work and set it apart from the rest of the house.
Organize the workspace
Set up your workspace to allow for an organized arrangement of your requirements and a clear working area. You may include a rolling filing cabinet to stash away files not in use and other stationery. You could also fit some shelves on the wall next to your desk to place any other items.
However, make sure all these are within easy reach for convenience. Organize device cords and wires to avoid tripping over them and accidental power interruption that can mess up a task on a machine.
Optimize lighting and comfort
You will need to fit good lighting for your workspace for better working experience. Working in dim light can be harmful to your health, contributing to exhaustion and vision problems. This can hamper productivity and affect your general wellbeing.
Choose good furniture and especially chairs with ergonomic design for your back posture. Since this is your house and your resources, maximize comfort to enjoy working from home. Create a den that is comfortable for you.
It is really about what works for you and the resources at your disposal. You might be lucky to have an extra room for a better experience or you may just go basic and use your dining table for the purpose. Whatever the case, make it as comfortable and functional as possible to facilitate your work. Look around your home and you will not miss a nook somewhere that you could convert.