With greater flexibility for staff and higher productivity for businesses, hybrid work is a win-win scenario.
And now many of us work from home just once or twice a week, we might be tempted to let our WFH setups slide.
Here are 3 tips for creating a WFH space you can be proud of – so you don’t just work from home, you excel from home.
1. Divide to conquer: keep your worlds apart
It’s your WFH day! And the kids are bickering, the dog is barking and the pile of dirty laundry on the couch is calling to you. (And so is the couch.)
Working from home is a blessing until these domestic distractions creep in. (As George, a Harwyn client, can attest to.)
That’s why having a dedicated WFH space is so important. By keeping your personal and professional worlds separate where possible, you help yourself compartmentalise. That’s just as important at the end of the day, when it’s time to switch off, as it is at the start.
And it doesn’t always need to be a separate room. Use a room divider or get a bit creative with indoor plants to create some barriers around your WFH space.
Anything that gives you some psychological distance between work and home will help.
Whatever you’re working with, the principles are simple: keep your home office clear, clean and inviting.
Your work is important. So give yourself the space you need to perform at your peak.
2. Get the foundations right from the start
A top-notch workspace starts with the essentials. What tools do you need to get your work done to the best of your ability?
A quality Wi-Fi connection is a good start. Offices tend to go for the fastest connection possible out of necessity – often around 100mbps.
Most households don’t need to go quite so fast, but a connection of at least 25mbps is ideal. This will comfortably let you upload files, download documents and stream music all at once.
And speaking of comfort, consider what you’re sitting in while you work. Is it a spare kitchen chair? A bar stool? Or a decent ergonomic chair?
A good ergonomic chair might seem like an unnecessary investment if you don’t use it every day. But trust us, your spine will thank you for the lumbar support. (In the short and long term.)
Another essential aspect is good quality light – especially in this era of Zoom meetings. If you can position your desk close to a window, brilliant. If not, it might be worth grabbing a ring light.
Finally, if you’re used to connecting your laptop to a larger monitor in the office, but only use a laptop at home, consider buying your own monitor, mouse and keyboard.
You’d be surprised at the difference a professional setup makes in your mood and productivity on your WFH days.
3. Create a space you look forward to working in
Offices aren’t always the most inspiring or colourful places. But the beauty of working from home is that you get to personalise your space!
Having a sense of ownership over your workspace helps you to feel proud of it. So decorate to your heart’s content.
Potted plants, colourful prints or even a small mirror will bring dimension and personality into your space.
That being said, you don’t want to crowd your work area; a cluttered space equals a cluttered mind.
So ask yourself a few questions before stocking up on décor:
- Does this inspire me?
- Does this motivate me?
- Will this distract me? Or keep me focused?
By giving yourself some criteria, you’ll save yourself from buyer’s remorse – and you’ll save some money, too.
Want all the above features in one beautifully designed space? For a ready-made WFH solution, look no further than a Harwyn pod.
Call 1300 Harwyn (1800 884 274) or send us an enquiry today.