5 Tips for Setting Up a Home Office
Today, more and more people are likely to work or attend school from home. This is a fact that new home builders certainly realize. Single family homes are now being designed with the new COVID-19 reality in mind. This trend may continue for some time to come. Let’s look at a few tips for setting up a home office that will be most conducive to your needs.
1. Get a Good Office Chair
There are a few variables that you don’t want to ignore. At the top of the list is a comfortable chair. An uncomfortable chair can lead to muscle pains, reduced productivity, and even health problems. You can literally save yourself some headaches by finding a comfortable chair. You might need to spend a little more, but it will ultimately be worth it!
2. Think About Your Desk and Monitor Set Up
Having a chair with a good ergonomic design is just the first step. If your lower back doesn’t reach the back of the chair, then you’ll want to incorporate some sort of pillow or contoured cushion to provide extra support. Your desk should allow your arms to be bent at 90 degrees and for your shoulders to be relaxed.
Monitor height is an often-overlooked factor in setting up your home office, but it is very important. Your monitor should be at eye level. This set-up help you avoid looking downwards, which increases neck strain.
3. Establish Boundaries
Next, you’ll want to reserve spaces for attending school and/or working from home. If your home already has a special room that is a natural fit for the office, then you’re in good shape. If you have a spare bedroom, now might be the time to transform it into your office or a virtual classroom for your family. But what if your rooms are all maxed out? In this case, try designating an area of your home for your office.
If your home has a loft area, walk-in closet, or a flex space that can be carved out to use as an office, now is the time to make these adjustments. By thinking outside the box, you’ll likely be able to find a manageable solution for your home office needs.
4. Stay Free of Distractions
The simple fact is that boundaries are essential when creating a dedicated office space in your home. Being able to focus and stay organized are a must. Keeping your designated office space or learning area clean of mess and distractions is worth the effort in the long run. It will greatly enhance your productivity.
A general recommendation is to never face your desk towards the kitchen or a particularly messy part of your home. That’s one good reason to try to set up your office by a window, as it will give you the idea of more space.
If you have children, you’ll have to give some thought to noise restrictions. When you are not talking on the phone, you can make use of noise cancelling headphones or earplugs. Make sure your children know that you’ll need quiet uninterrupted time during working hours.
5. Consider Your Internet Needs
You’ll also want to make sure you have a good wired or wi-fi connection with plenty of bandwidth to handle your work needs along with any online classes your family might be taking. The last thing you want are dropouts during a video conference or virtual class.
New home builders are often well aware of these sorts of single-family home trends. They are constantly looking at new ways to meet the needs of families. If you are shopping for a new home right now, you’ll likely see an increase in offices and lofts to facilitate modern homebuyers’ needs.