Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Last Updated on June 23, 2022 by Work In My Pajamas
With working from home being far more widespread and important this year, many have been scratching their heads as to how to make their home office as effective as possible.
Working in the wrong space can lead you to become unproductive and even uncomfortable, which can seriously impact the quality of your work. Sprawling yourself on your sofa with your laptop on your lap or hunching over your kitchen table isn’t going to cut it for the long term, so here’s some tips to help you set up a good home office.
In This Post:
Find an Isolated Space
Having a designated area where you get your work done can really help you be more productive and comfortable. If you have the luxury of a spare room or study, convert that into a specified office space where you can shut yourself away from the distractions of the home.
If your home is more compact, find a place that’s detached from your leisure areas. This means you shouldn’t be working in your bedroom (and especially your bed) or your living area, as these have strong mental connections to relaxation. If there really is no other option, be sure to turn off your entertainment devices so that you’re not tempted to sneak away from work to snuggle up and watch hours of Netflix.
Invest in an Office Chair
Getting a proper office chair for your home is a great way to instantly elevate your working from home space. An office chair is far more comfortable for prolonged periods of work and can help you maintain a correct posture which will do your back a world of good.
Opting for an adjustable office chair is a good option, as you’ll be able to configure it so that it best suits your body space, desk, and computer. An office chair will make you far better at performing not only work tasks, but also studying at home and completing an MBA online.
Good Lighting
It’s important that you have good lighting in your home office so that your eyes don’t strain. You should have enough light to illuminate your entire workspace, so get some ceiling lamps and position your desk near a window.
You want to try and avoid glare on your screen, so make sure there’s no indirect light shining from behind you and don’t put a lamp on your desk directly as this will create a competing light source from your screen, which isn’t good. To keep your eyes fit and healthy you can also get special glasses that block the blue light emitted from computer screens which can help a lot with tiredness and strain.
Find the Correct Monitor Height
The monitor of your PC or laptop needs to be at the right height to minimize neck strain and injury. Too many home workers are hunched over their desktop, craning their neck down and this is going to cause damage in the future.
Your monitor should line up so that you’re looking straight ahead when sitting and that your eyes are about a quarter below the top of the screen. This helps keep your shoulders level and maintain a good poster.
If you haven’t got a large PC, to make your laptop more effective, invest in a stand so that it’s higher up off the table, and then you can also get a wireless keyboard so that it can rest on the table as normal. This setup is far more effective as it mimics the desktop configuration and will be infinitely more comfortable.
