For many people, working from home has become a normal part of everyday life. Whereas the initial transition into home working typically meant sitting at the kitchen table or typing from the sofa, we’ve all been working from home for so long now that whole spare rooms or corners of bedrooms have necessarily become makeshift offices.
If your workstation could use a little more thoughtful direction with regards to your setup, keep reading to find out how to turn your available space into a passable office environment.
Lighting is key
One of the first considerations that employers make over working environments is adequate lighting (buy E27 LED bulb – ideal for the home). Too much lighting has the same effect as too little. Your eyes will squint and the muscle will strain. It’s a one-way ticket to a headache and, as a result, a much slower output.
Even if your home office is already up and running, and even if you think you have nailed the details, any concerns with regards to strained eyes, headaches, and noticeably poorer results in your work could be directly related to lighting. Take the time to ensure you research and implement adequate lighting levels for the space in which your work.
Top tip: you will typically require around 20 lumens per sq ft for lower level bedroom lighting, and you will need around 80 lumens per sq ft for more clinical kitchen and bathroom lighting. Use those figures as a guide and find what works best for you.
Supportive chair
This one sort of speaks for itself. As grandma used to say, always make sure you have comfy sheets and comfy shoes, because if you’re not in one you’re in the other. Wise words. But grandma didn’t foresee the pandemic and endless months of working from home. What she should have said was, “… and in the event of a lockdown, invest in a chair with adequate back support”. But that’s nowhere near as catchy. But how do you choose a chair?
There’s a reason some chairs are taller than others. The higher the back, the more support the chair offers. For short stay seating, such as in a waiting room, a lower back is sufficient to support your lumbar. But for the nine to five grind, try to make sure you have access to seating that at least meets shoulder height when seated.
How’s your internet connection?
If there’s one thing many people discovered as a result of the almost global lockdown, it’s that internet speeds are averages intended to reflect average use. Or to put it another way, the advertised internet speeds were brought down a peg or two when everyone was forced to work from home and servers began to buckle under the strain of the increased traffic.
If your internet speed regularly causes issues, look into an upgrade. Don’t fall into the trap of being lazy and sticking to what you know just because your direct debits are all set up. Make the change and reap the benefits of a smoother connection.
