If you still report to the office, or if your home has recently become your office, a proper workspace is an important factor in maintaining productivity. No matter your profession, or position for that matter, you are always engaged in a battle with improving productivity and accomplishing high-quality work in a timely manner. There are a number of distractions that make this challenging in the office amongst colleagues, but there are even more at home.
Working from home can pose some unique situations that disrupt the typical work dynamic a company would experience. This can be a result of administrative issues such as work assignments becoming less clear or tasks between teams becoming more challenging, however, it is still your responsibility to find a way to endure and provide a solution. More commonly, though, delays to the workflow of employees working from home are going to be found in the form of household cleaning, cooking, and attending to children. This is why it’s important to prioritize a designated workspace to avoid these distractions.
It’s no surprise that where you complete your work and what surrounds the area has a large effect on productivity. Establishing a space that’s free from the distractions of the home is a start, but what else can contribute to a more productive workspace?
- Proper Desk Support: choose a surface that provides plenty of clean space for important hardware and is without clutter. Prioritize what is and isn’t allowed on the desk for the sake of productivity. Sanitize frequently to maintain clean peripherals such as your keyboard, mouse, or touchpad.
- Ergonomic Consideration: if you don’t have a fitting chair in the home, purchasing one that provides ergonomic support is a great tool for your posture and increasing productivity.Don’t default to the comfy recliner or a couch in the home, be willing to invest in a dedicated desk or find a way to simulate one with items in the home.
- Decorate with Green: if you’re going to be trapped inside all day, consider decorating your desk or surrounding area with interior plants. This will improve air quality and provide a pleasant sight to relieve your eyes from the screen time during the workday. Additionally, consider setting up your remote workspace near a window for natural light to shine through during the day.
- Maintain a Routine: stick to the same routine for your remote workdays as you would days in the office. Shower and have a fulfilling breakfast, avoid any household chores and stay as far away from the TV as you can. Limiting the amount of home-related distractions will create an environment that’s more similar to reporting to the office.
These are just some of the basics of getting the most out of your designated home workspace. In order to ensure the same level of productivity in the office, while at home, follow these tips. For more information about how to establish a home workspace, consider reviewing Deflecto’s infographic How to Create a Productive Workspace below.
