The pandemic ravaging hundreds of cities worldwide has rendered a significant proportion of the workforce unable to commute to work daily. This has resulted in companies seeking alternative work arrangements for their employees. Working from home affects so many things on a global scale that it is certain to become the new normal for most of us moving forward.
If it’s your first time working remotely, Omni is here to help you plan your workspace and get the job done. We organized a list of tips that will help improve your productivity and achieve more in less time.
- Choose an ideal area for your workspace
When setting up your home office, examine the options that make sense for your situation even if you’re short on space. You can choose a basic setup. It doesn’t require expensive remodeling as long as you consider these three things: light, sound, and temperature, then you’re good to go.
Once you’ve decided on the location, it’s time to plan the actual setup. Begin with the most essential items, such as your desk, your chair, your computer, and your connection. Make sure you get a good signal for uninterrupted zoom calls.
- Have a fast desktop or laptop
Choosing a desktop or a laptop depends on the type of work that you do. If you’re a content creator or someone who uses a computer for intense graphic designing, you can opt-in to a device where you can utilize all applications needed without slowdowns. A laptop with a high-speed processor and larger storage capacity is the best option.
For those who use project management tools and usual Microsoft office applications such as Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, an entry-level or midrange desktop or laptop with a decent RAM and Storage capacity should be sufficient for your daily workload.
It would be advisable to get a computer with complete connectivity ports as well so it wouldn’t be a hassle if there is a need to transfer files.
- Check your Internet speed
Internet is now more important than ever. It provides a link that works as a lifeline for the global labor force in these challenging times. Internet speed is crucial for people working from home because this can make or break the business they are working on. A significant number of people in the country states that the number one concern that they have is their internet speed. This might affect their productivity and may cause delays on some projects if the connection is lost.
Whenever you experience a slow internet connection, consider working near the router. If you already have an existing workspace, you can invest in a repeater to strengthen your connection speed. If all else fails, make sure to have a backup connection.
- Get a good computer stand
If you are currently using a laptop, it is a worthy investment to purchase a stand where you can ergonomically set your device in a position you can work comfortably. This would also allow proper machine airflow so your device would not overheat.
- Keep a water bottle by your side throughout the day
It is necessary to keep yourself hydrated while working so you could sustain the energy for the entire workday. Drinking the right amount of water will prevent you from feeling restless and getting headaches. It would be better if you have a water source near your workspace so you can easily refill your bottle whenever you have an ongoing zoom meeting with your teammates.
- Invest in noise-canceling earphones/ headphones
There is nothing worse than being surrounded by distracting sounds and irritating noises at home. Multiple conversations are happening simultaneously in close range, dogs barking or roosters crowing. These can easily divert your mood and might affect your productivity.
One way to avoid these distractions is to put on noise-canceling earphones. Some people prefer listening to their favorite playlist while some don’t. If you are the kind of person who just wants to concentrate on a given task, you may want to activate the noise-canceling feature of your device. This could increase your productivity and help you focus.
- Get a desk and a comfy chair
A desk where you can place essentials such as your laptop or desktop matters if you are working from home. Your workspace requires your desk or table at work height. The industry-standard measures 29 inches from the floor to the top of the work surface. Many desks and tables have tractable elevations.
You can also purchase a desk with built-in storage space so you can declutter your area, make it more functional and less chaotic. A clean desk can boost your spirit and produce better quality work too.
It would be best to partner your desk with an adjustable chair that can roll and can provide support for your lower back. An armrest is preferable, but only if you use it correctly.
- Protect your eyes from damage
Working from home means prolonged exposure to light-emitting devices such as laptops or smartphones that might affect your vision and cause headache or eye strain. There are many ways to protect your eyes from getting harmed. One of which is purchasing Blue-light blocking glasses that have a special filter in their lenses that block or absorb blue light and in some cases UV light, from getting through. You may also use artificial tears that you can get over-the-counter to relieve dry eyes from irritation. It is always advisable to consult your doctor first before trying these items.
- Create better home office lighting
Natural light is essential because it improves your mood and creates a warm and bright ambiance as opposed to dim and unattractive workspaces. If unavailable, there are LED lamps that mimic natural ambient lighting. These can be purchased online and can be magnetically attached to your desk for good illumination.
- Have your classic notepad ready
No home office setup is complete without a standard notebook or notepad for jotting down notes as you talk to your teammates or clients. Writing notes by hand generally improves your grasp on a particular topic and helps you remember it better. Certain topics might be faster to write by hand especially if you are working on a report that includes doing some formulas.
Working from home is undoubtedly on the cards for many of us, and for sure you might even find that the time away from the office hasn’t gotten any easier. The current situation has allowed us to shift gears and establish a work from home arrangement that will give our team members a sense of fulfillment and security.
Here at Omni Channel Solutions, we do everything we can to help ensure our team is motivated and still highly efficient even in this remote work structure.
