Many people find themselves working remotely right now, whether this is full-time or as part of a hybrid work model. Remote work can bring many benefits, and many people would now find it hard to go back into an office Monday to Friday 9-5, but to get the most out of remote work and to work to a high standard, it is important to have a suitable area to work from.
You cannot expect to work to your potential if you are working on the sofa, which is why you need to know how to set up a home office for remote work success. Keep reading to find out more.
Find A Quiet Area Of The Home
First, you need to find the right area of the home for remote work. You do not want to be in a busy area like the lounge or dining room, so instead, try to find a quiet place where you can work free from distractions. Ideally, this will be a spare room, or you could even look to convert the attic or basement into a home office.
This is also important because it helps you to separate work from home – something that many struggle with when it comes to remote work. This separation between your working life and personal life is important for your mental health when remote working.
Buy A High-Quality Desk & Office Chair
There are no purchases more important than the desk that you work from and the office chair that you use. You will be spending many hours working here, so you need a strong and sturdy desk with enough space for all of your work kit.
The office chair needs to be comfortable and ergonomic so that you can work comfortably each day and avoid injury. An office chair can be an expensive purchase, but you should be able to find a good deal with enough research online. You could also speak to your employer to see if they can provide a chair for you if it’s out of your personal budget.
Invest In A Good Laptop
Another important purchase for your home office is a laptop; this gives you the freedom and flexibility to work whenever you wish. This means that instead of being stuck at your desk each day, you could go and work in a cafe or take your laptop into the office if you undertake hybrid working.
However you work, it’s important to invest in a laptop that’s fit for the job. An old, low-end one won’t cut it for work. Cutting corners when it comes to tech that enables you to work is ill-advised. That doesn’t mean you need to break the bank, though – you can find deals on the best and latest laptops with some online research to help keep your costs down.
Have a Second Monitor
When you work from home, you notice that one of the must-have tech pieces is something that’s incredibly basic and simple: a second monitor. When you work from a laptop or desktop computer, you’ll probably use multiple applications and need to be able to see several sheets at the same time. Flicking between tabs and applications can be a pain – but not when a second monitor is there to save the day.
A second monitor essentially doubles your screen size, creating a super screen that can display multiple sheets and applications at the same time, so you don’t have to keep flitting between them. This makes computer work so much easier and saves a lot of time and confusion. Even though a monitor is a basic piece of tech, that doesn’t mean you should buy any old screen from any old store.
This tech is for work, so it needs to be modern and up for the task; otherwise, your work might suffer. Ideally, purchasing from a high-quality computer tech supplier like CCL and various other leading tech retailers is best advised – that way, you know you’re getting top-end goods and reliable customer support if you need it.
Use The Best Remote Work Tools
Once you have your laptop, you can then start to research remote work tools that will help with your performance. What you use will depend on the type of work you are doing, but you might want to look into videoconferencing software, screen-sharing tools, productivity tools, cloud platforms, and messaging apps like Slack, Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and various others.
Consider Other Tech Needs
You may also require different types of tech and hardware depending on the work that you are doing. You may require a printer, scanner, digital camera, and industry-specific software that will allow you to carry out your role remotely.
Decorate The Office Tastefully
Finally, it would be best if you took the time to decorate your home office tastefully in a way that makes your workspace more pleasant and comfortable to be in. You will be spending many hours here, so it needs to be somewhere comfortable, welcoming, and stylish while still being neutral.
You should opt for light colours on the wall to maximize natural light and to create a bright space and then use personal photographs, artwork, and other decorations to add personality. Additionally, office plants are an important addition that can make the room more attractive while also bringing physical and mental health benefits.
Final Thoughts
The advice in this post should help you to get your home office up and running. If you work remotely, it is vital that you have a dedicated space that will allow you to work to your potential and be free from distractions each day. Plus, this is important for creating a separation between work and home. This should allow you to work to a high standard while also enjoying the many benefits of remote work.