Since the pandemic, working from home has surged in popularity. Although the increase in WFH started from necessity, it has remained a popular choice among employers and employees due to increased focus, reduced commute times, and greater flexibility.
Despite the benefits of working from home, it is certainly an adjustment, especially if you are used to working in an office environment. As a result, it can often take some time to get into the groove and maximise your productivity.
If you are looking for ways to reduce procrastination and up your WFH game, make sure your home office setup is working for you. Here are some things you can do to optimise the space and boost your productivity levels.
Remove distractions
Your home is likely to be full of distractions, particularly if you have never worked from home before. Whether it be the full washing basket that needs tackling or the comfy sofa desperate to be sat on, there is always something to do at home that isn’t work. The easiest way to not get distracted is by removing the distractions entirely.
Start by doing a full de-clutter of your home office and removing anything you no longer need or that doesn’t have a purpose in your workspace. If your home office also has other functions, such as a guest bedroom, it might not be practical to remove everything that isn’t work-related. If this is the case, consider adding in some clever built-in storage which will allow you to keep things in close reach but out of sight for when you need to get stuff done.
Prioritise posture
Posture is vital for overall health, but not only that, it can have a direct impact on energy, confidence, and productivity. While it can be very tempting to work slumped on the sofa or hunched over your desk all day, this can cause serious problems with your posture and health later down the line.
Therefore, when setting up your home office your posture needs to be a top priority. Make sure you have a quality chair that can support your back, neck, and arms. It is also worth considering whether you would benefit from a footrest and an ergonomic mouse and mouse mat too. Once this is all set up, make sure to align your screen with your eye line to ensure you aren’t having to hunch over.
As well as the equipment you use, your working habits will also impact your posture. Make sure that you are taking regular breaks to get up, leave your desk, walk around, and stretch. If you are prone to working hours on end without stopping for a break, set yourself some automated reminders to prompt you.
Introduce greenery
There are so many reasons why it is beneficial to include greenery in your office, and it goes way beyond their appearance.
From improving your health to increasing both your productivity and creativity, it is hard to find a reason to not incorporate plants into your office space. If you are new to being a plant parent, opt for something easy to care for to begin with. Once you have managed to keep your first plant alive for a while, you can then start to build up a bigger collection.
