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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
Working from home is both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, you don’t have to waste time commuting to and from work every day and you can use that time to sleep a bit longer. On the downside, it’s also very difficult to concentrate because you’re at home, everything is familiar, and you would rather sit on the sofa and watch your favorite show than work. Since being productive and effective is imperative when it comes to work, we have made a list of features that will help you stay on track when working from home.
Shelves and drawers
While you might be tempted to keep some of the things you need for work in other rooms of your home, it’s generally a bad idea as you’ll be wasting time going to get it. When you’re immersed in your work, taking an unplanned break to get something out of your living room will have a bad effect on your productivity. This is one of the reasons why you should have plenty of shelves and drawers which will be able to hold all your files, folders, stacks of paper, and/or tools. Not only will this improve your productivity, but you will also be able to relax when you’re not working, states Jo Heinz, president of Staffelbach, an interior design firm from Dallas, Texas.
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A wireless hub
One of the best things about working from home is that you’re more comfortable, which means you can take more shorter breaks when your back hurt. Investing in a solid wireless hub for your office is always a good idea as it will allow you to move around and continue working uninterrupted. If you’re one of those people who like to pace to and fro while thinking about a problem, or your back hurt and you need to switch your office chair for an armchair by the window, a wireless hub will allow you to take your laptop with you. You can walk around or choose to work from a sitting or standing position, and you will not even have to buy a standing desk for this.
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Air conditioner
It’s virtually impossible to focus on work when the room is stuffy and too hot, or too cold. You don’t want to reach for cups of hot coffee just to keep yourself warm, and keep the window open to get some fresh air because it’s terribly inconvenient. Australia is notorious for heat and insects, and keeping a window open isn’t an option. There are air conditioning technicians who will be able to install and maintain an AC unit so you have the best working conditions in your home as well as in your home office. A good air conditioner will help you keep an optimum temperature for work and you will be able to focus on the task at hand.
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Good lighting
If possible, try to get as much natural light as you can and look for a room that has a window as it will enhance the lighting. It would be a good idea to combine high-quality task lighting with natural daylight, but if your office is in a room with no windows, you might want to try one of those daylight-replicating light sources. Remember that overhead lighting directly above computer screens is a bad idea as it causes eyestrain.
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Eventually, it all comes down to you and your own preferences. It’s important for your home office to be a reflection of who you are, but it’s equally important for it to be business-like and professional. You should enjoy spending time there but try to avoid making it too casual or you’ll just treat it as another living room and won’t be able to focus on work. You should be comfortable there, but you should also be productive, so try to find balance and design the space so that it inspires you to focus on work and not distract you.
