by Jan Yager
Remote work was previously associated with freelancers as well as consultants and the self-employed. Now, people working for companies and corporations of all sizes are working remotely anywhere from one to two or more days a week. What does this mean for those who are concerned with their office space and their productivity, as well as their satisfaction? It means that you must put effort into designing and even upgrading your home office if you want to achieve optimum results, considering everything from furniture to technology.
Location
The right location is key to successful remote work. If possible, create a space in your apartment or home that is dedicated to your workspace. Consider converting an existing bedroom into a home office. If all rooms are being utilized, find a place in your living room, family room, or even your kitchen where you can set up a desk and any other furniture or supplies you need for your home office. It should be in a location where there is the least traffic or noise, at least during the times of day, or night, when you tend to do your work.
The type and size of your home office is not as important as having a dedicated space for yourself. Some might even want to convert part or all or part of a garage or attic space into a home office. If you think this is going to be more than just a passing phase for you, the financial and time investment it takes to create an efficient and functional home office space should be a worthwhile investment.
Furniture
Your task chair is one of the most important pieces of furniture in your remote-work office space. It needs to be ergonomically designed so that you have maximum support for yourself. Do your research about the various chairs available to you and visit the showroom or trade show and try the chair out.
There is a lot of discussion about standing desks these days. For some, it is a great option since we have all learned that too much sitting is counterproductive and unhealthy. Some swear by their standing desk and others find it challenging to get used to anything but the traditional desk that they sit at in a typical corporate environment.
If you have the room for it, a stuffed, upholstered chair or even a larger sofa brings a comfortable, resimercial touch to your remote office. One of the perks of working from home is having more control over your time. Without the typical office distractions, many workers find they are getting more done, not less, in their remote office space, although isolation and feeling cut off are issues that need to be dealt with. But you can pace yourself better and reduce stress in a setting that you have designed and added personal touches to.
Technology and Lighting
Technology and lighting are key concerns for your remote work office space. If you are video-conferencing to successfully work remotely (like most of us are), then you also need to think about lighting . Make sure you can turn any overhead lights shining directly on your computer away from your screen if you are video-conferencing on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Harsh glare is an unnecessary distraction and annoyance to those to which you are connecting.
Technology can be a friend to anyone working remotely. In addition to videoconferencing, creating, maintaining, and communicating with your database of current and previous clients and details about projects is essential. If you are using a specific system in your regular corporate office, if possible, for consistency, use the same system in your remote office space.
Time Management
Finally, do not forget work-life balance even though you are working at home. One of the benefits of 9-to-5 is that it imposes an ideal structure, even if 9-to-5 is really 8-to-6. But remote work has been known to extend into the wee hours of the morning and throughout the weekend, jeopardizing that all-important partner or family time that is pivotal for a full life.
Create a schedule that is realistic and balanced. If you want to work an hour or two on the weekends, or first thing in the morning before the rest of the family is up, that is fine. Just try to avoid making it an all-day/all-night habit so that remote work, before you know it, has taken over your entire life.
Jan Yager, who has a Ph.D. in sociology, is the author of more than 50 award-winning books including Work Less, Do More and Making Your Office Work for You, originally published by Doubleday and available as an audiobook narrated by Jessica Cross. For more on Jan, including selected article and book excerpts, visit her main website and sign up for her mailing list at drjanyager.com.