Working from home essentials: Home office edition

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By Rosana Beechum

In recent years there has been a huge increase in the amount of people working from home. Setting up a home office can be difficult; often, you will find that you have either underestimated or overestimated your needs – neither of which is ideal. If your home office needs a bit of attention, read on for all the essentials that you need to make your days easier.

Your computer

This one is obvious, but it is worth mentioning. You will not have much success working from home without a good computer. Some businesses provide this equipment to their staff, and others are expected to use their personal computer. If you fall into the latter, then it is worth doing some research to find a computer that is going to suit your specific needs. For example, if you think you will end up being quite mobile while working, then a laptop is a must. If you are going to work solely in your home office, you could consider a desktop computer. Some people opt for a monitor and a laptop which allows them to work across two screens at once. Most of the time, regardless of your role or your field, you will need to use the internet. Working from home places more of a strain on your broadband connection, so it is imperative that you make sure that you have a good internet connection.

Your desk & chair

You will spend a lot of time working in your home office; you need to be comfortable. Working from home will save you money in the long run, and it is worth reinvesting those savings into your office, specifically the desk and the chair. This is where you will spend most of your time; you cannot really afford to scrimp here. The desk and chair you choose can affect you physically; if you choose the wrong ones, you can suffer from joint and muscle pain, which can have a huge impact on your life overall. When choosing your office furniture, ergonomics and comfort are key. Having an ergonomically correct workstation has a tonne of benefits, and you can read more about these benefits on Branch Furniture’s blog. They also have a huge range of office furniture which you can use to kit out your home office.

Lighting

The lighting in your office matters. Ideally, you will have a window or windows which produce a lot of natural light for you to work by. If this isn’t the case, then you should invest in a few lamps to make sure that you are working in a well-lit environment. If your workspace isn’t lit properly, you run the risk of suffering from headaches or eye strain, which can affect your productivity.

Software

Depending on your job role, you might benefit from the use of additional software which is specific to your enterprise or role. Although, in most cases, if you are working for someone else, they will provide the software; if you are freelance or if you run your own business, this obviously, won’t be the case. Nevertheless, there are hundreds of thousands of different apps out there which could help. So do some research and compile a list of what you will need on your computer in order to maximize your efficiency.

A printer or multipurpose machine

Depending on the nature of your business and the role that you do, you might get away with having a paperless office. However, you might still find that there are a lot of occasions when you wish you had the equipment to scan, fax or make copies. A multipurpose machine can be useful in tackling these tasks. Also, if you deal with a lot of paper or personal information, you may want to invest in a paper shredder too. Shredders are the best way to destroy confidential or private files.

Storage needs

Even if you aim to be paperless in the future, you will need to come up with some storage solutions, whether online or physically. In your office, you could get a filing cabinet or look into other storage solutions to keep your office tidy and your important documentation to hand. If you store a lot of files on your computer, then you may want to get an external hard drive or look into a cloud-based storage system. This frees up space on your computer whilst also keeping your files safe.

Keep the clutter to a minimum

Lastly, this is not something that you can purchase for your office, but it is still essential. People tend to lose their motivation, and their productivity suffers in untidy environments. As a remote worker, your workspace is one of the only things you have control over while working from home. Look around your office and relocate everything that shouldn’t be in there. If you cannot find a new home for it, then get rid of it. Keep a bin to hand to make tidying up after yourself easier. And tidy things away as you go along to keep your desk as clear as possible. The décor and overall look of your office matters just as much as the equipment inside of it. Use the space to your advantage. For example, if you have an empty wall, you could get a whiteboard to keep notes on, or you could get a cork board to pin notices onto. You could put up shelves to act as storage. It is all about making the best use of your space.

Conclusion

The above list should be seen as a starting point for your home office as depending on the work you do, you might need a few other pieces of equipment which haven’t been mentioned. However, now that you have a good idea of the basics, you are in a better position to get started in creating a streamlined and efficient home office. You will be spending a lot of time in your home office, so it is important that you get it right.

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Rosana Beechum is committed to helping small business leaders to understand the ever-evolving corporate landscape and adapt to the developments they notice in their market.

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