The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered our daily lives. Ultimately, it has brought massive changes to the way we communicate with each other, the way we travel, and even the way we do business as well as professional work. Especially as regards business and work, the pandemic has forced a lot of companies to require their employees to work from their homes. This is precisely why home offices have been really popular lately.
The challenge for a lot of employees nowadays is how they can set up their living spaces to become conducive to work and productivity. In this article, we are going to talk you through some key tips and tricks that can help you set up your own home office. This list will include the following: choosing a room, setting up lighting, changing layout/design, tech and gadget recommendations, as well as some practical data management tips, like backing up your data using Veeam backup. So, without further ado, let’s get on with the list.
Pick Out A Room
The first thing that you’d want to accomplish when setting up your own home office is to choose a room to be the basis of all the stuff moving further down this list. Essentially, this room will be the foundation of your layout, design, tech, etc. Most people would just use their bedrooms as their home office. However, this could potentially prevent you from being productive, as the feeling of being in the comfort of your bedroom could make you feel drowsy or lazy. Whenever possible, choose an entirely separate room for your office. If you can’t afford to do so, consider your living room instead. Living rooms are great because they have quite an active vibe, and it tends to be wide and open, which makes it easier to find a spot and set up.
Lighting
Lighting is a critical component when setting up any room. For those areas intended to be for work and productivity, make sure that you have enough lighting. A dark room with minimal lighting induces a feeling of comfort and relaxation, which takes away from our goal of being focused and productive. Also, if you can, try to incorporate as much natural light as possible. This could be achieved by strategically placing windows or openings around the area. It would also be a good idea to place your desk near windows so that you’ll be much closer to natural lighting. Natural light is preferred over artificial light not only because it is more efficient but also because it tends to be easier on the eyes.
Design/Layout
Also, pay attention to how things are laid out around your home office. Try to put wide and broad work desks near the spot where you intend to work. This is so that you can place things like computers, printers, paperwork, and other stuff nearby, thus making them easily reachable and accessible. Finally, do try to keep your area clean and organized as much as you can. Although mess will definitely be inevitable, it always helps to have things sorted and arranged so that you can easily locate things, and it will not be such an eyesore to look at.
Tech
Do try to incorporate tech into your home office. Try to use wireless peripherals to avoid clutter. Use smart devices to have more functionalities within your devices. Experiment with ergonomic techs, such as chairs or even standing desks. Tech and gadgets are a great way to spice up and boost the function of your home office.
Data Management
Perhaps the most often overlooked aspect of a home office setup is good data management. Keep in mind that you’re still working with company files and information, so you have to be able to keep this data safe and secure. Consider backing up your files physically or via a cloud. Install anti-malware software. Conduct regular drive cleaning. And, most importantly, be careful of how you interact with things on the internet.
