[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ince the pandemic has spread all over the world, many companies have switched to remote working. Some employees have found it less stressful and are enjoying flexible hours, while the majority have found it really hard and can’t adapt to it. Their productivity and efficiency have decreased, and they’re not able to separate work time from free time, and this is affecting their overall mental and physical health. The main reason why some employees are incapable of being as efficient at home as they were at the office is that their homes aren’t office-ready and they didn’t set fixed working hours for themselves. To remedy that, check out the following working from home essentials that will help you get work done more efficiently.
Workspace
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you should work on the bed or the couch, as this is exactly what makes you less productive. Start by getting a desk and a chair and create a workspace in your house. You should get a flat desk and a comfortable chair that doesn’t hurt your back so you can maintain a good posture while sitting comfortably. However, that’s not all; getting a flat desk and a chair is essential, but where you place them is just as important. Dedicating a workspace where you do nothing but work will increase your productivity; you don’t have to dedicate a whole room for work, but a small area where you can place all your work-related stuff would suffice.
To feel like you’re working in a regular office, you should ensure that you don’t get distracted by any home-related noise. Close the door of the room you’re in to avoid getting distracted by your kids, pets, or any other disruptions. You should also ensure that your workspace is clean and organized. You can add some shelves or drawers where you place your possessions when you don’t need them to eliminate clutter, and clean the desk before and after working to keep the space organized. That way, you will be able to focus on your work and at the same time disconnect from the work atmosphere once you’re done.
Back-Up Plan
When you’re working from your office, you don’t need to worry about power outages, or computer software failures because you know that your company or IT department will handle it. However, since you’re working from home, you’ll be the one responsible for that, and having a back-up plan in case an unexpected event occurred should be your priority. You can start by getting a back-up generator at your home. Power outages can happen at any time and if the power goes out as you’re working, your work will be postponed and you might lose some data. The folks over at Krugerpower recommend investing in a portable generator to ensure that your workstation will be up and running for 12 hours straight during a power outage. You can get bigger generators if you want to operate the whole house until the power is back. However, if you only want to ensure that the power cut does not affect your work, then a portable generator will do the trick.
While creating a back-up plan, you should put in mind the probability of your laptop or computer breaking. It could happen for many reasons, and you should be prepared for it. Make sure that you have another working laptop or PC that can handle your work in case something happened to the main one. Also, a back-up hard drive, to save all your work, is needed to ensure that your work is not lost in case of a power outage, or computer failure
Reliable Internet
All remote work requires a strong internet connection and is a must-have for every remote worker. Slow internet connection will slow your working progress and if it disconnects often, it could stress you out. Fast and reliable internet will boost your productivity and will allow you to get your work done on time and without any problems. Check the broadband and WIFI service providers in your area to ensure that you have a strong and uninterrupted internet connection.
Good Lighting
Almost all companies choose the right lighting to ensure that it boosts employees’ productivity. However, we don’t consider it in our homes and we usually choose the ones that make us comfortable. Light plays an important role when it comes to our mood and productivity, which is why you should pay attention to this part and ensure that you install the right lighting in your workplace. If you can’t change the lights in the room you’re working in, you can get a small lamp and place it over your desk to provide you with sufficient light.
Separate Phone
If your work includes talking to other people over the phone, consider getting a work phone number. Using the same phone for personal and business purposes will make you feel as if you’re working all the time and you don’t have working hours, which could be stressful. However, if you have a separate phone, you can turn it off once your working hours are over. Additionally, you can install a virtual phone on your computer to make it easier for you while working.
Plants and Candles
The overall atmosphere of your workplace is important because it affects your mood. An unclean or unorganized desk can stress you out, while a clean and tidy one can be soothing. However, there are other things that you can add to your desk that will boost your mood and allow you to focus on the job such as plants and candles. Surrounding your workplace with a little greenery and pleasant scents will decrease stress, motivate you, and boost your productivity. You can put real house plants or artificial ones, or flowers to enhance your mood and work progress.
Not being able to differentiate between work time and free time because you’re currently working and living in the same place can be stressful. That’s why it’s vital that you create an organized workplace, set clear working hours, and avoid any distractions while working. If you’re not able to dedicate an entire room for your work, you can get noise cancellation headphones so that you can eliminate distractions and focus more. Creating a schedule and working as if you’re in a regular office will allow you to concentrate on your work and achieve more in less time.
