If there’s one workplace trend that’s dominated in the last two years, it’s the increase in remote and hybrid opportunities. Not only have millions of us embraced this chance to shape and slot our work around our families and other priorities but it’s made many of us more content than we were previously.
The numbers speak for themselves – according to Squaretalk, remote workers are 22 percent happier than those employed onsite. But that’s not to say working from home doesn’t come with its challenges. Foremost among them is the struggle to stay productive.
This is something the right space can help to combat. We look at how to create a productive office in your home.
Equip yourself with the essentials
It’s not only about getting the feng shui right. Before you focus on fixtures and fittings, you must make sure you have the tools to stay productive. Think about what’s included in this tech survival kit from ExpressVPN: flash drives to backup important documents, a portable hotspot, and devices with long-lasting battery life.
One of the stresses of working outside the office is you don’t have the same tech support at hand if things go wrong. It’s on you to fix this, so look at how you can combat common issues such as losing your internet connection or experiencing a power cut.
Shop around for software tools designed to boost productivity too, or make a request to your workplace to supply you and other work-from-home team members with these (TechRadar has a handy list to help you choose). Essentially, make sure anything you might need during the work day can be easily found in your newly designated office space.
Minimise distractions
Onto that feng shui we mentioned earlier. It’s important your office space helps you focus on the work at hand, so consider ways to minimise distractions. If you have a choice of rooms, think about which one is the quietest i.e. farthest from high-traffic areas where there’s likely to be a lot of noise.
Ideally, look for a room that has a door, so you can shut out the children and pets while work is in progress. If it’s still too loud, Google ways to soundproof your space. Of course, it’s not only noises that can be distracting – you don’t want anywhere that’s too visually busy either.
This is for the sake of your colleagues as much as yourself and will save you from having to answer the same questions about that particular piece of artwork on your wall every time you’re on a Zoom call.
Create a sense of zen
While it’s productivity you’re aiming for, peace tends to go hand in hand with it. Without overt distractions, your mind can more easily focus on the task at hand, so shape your interior in a way that supports this.
This means, for example, carefully choosing your colour palette, with blue being a good choice for stimulating the senses and encouraging productivity. Green is another option to consider, as it engenders a sense of calm and reassurance, which can be handy for those with high-stress roles.
You might want to add some plants for good measure, as the science indicates that these can boost both our moods and productivity while also purifying the air and filtering out any nasties.
Isn’t it time you set to work on rejuvenating your home office?
Utilising technology when working from home
From Charcuterie boards to Butter boards; What’s the next big trend?