It’s been a year since the pandemic lockdowns have been announced. The work from home lifestyle, which was introduced but not widely adopted, suddenly became a viable option. Many people opted to follow the shift and are now enjoying their work situation.
If there ever was a time to shift to remote work, it is now, when you can’t move freely. The restrictions are still in place, and people are still not allowed to move as freely as they can. If you’re working on a study on soil erosion effects on the environment, surely you can do that remotely. It’s important to think about your safety first rather than brave it and risk infecting people around you.
If you’re decided to move to a home office situation permanently, here are a few tips on making your home office the best office it can be.
Focus on What Works
Working from home definitely doesn’t help if you don’t know what’s working and what’s not. There are a lot of things you can ask yourself, but it’s usually related to how comfortable your working conditions are. It could be a chair that’s causing you trouble or the lighting that’s making things difficult. These are little things that could be changed.
If you know what’s working, it will help you focus on the more important things at work. You feel more positive if you know you’re working towards what works. It’s not good to dwell on the things you can’t control—it will only hinder you from working towards the more important things, like cultivating a working culture at home.
Write Down What’s Causing You Trouble
If you’re still not clear on what’s causing you to remain unfocused, write down what you think might be the problem. Sometimes, the things you think are okay could be what’s causing you trouble. Don’t be too shy to write down as much as you can think—the sooner you clear out the issue with working from home, the better.
Making a list of the issues you experience while working at home helps you focus on the task at hand. You’ll know what to avoid, apart from knowing what problems you need to work on, what are the ones you can do something about, and the ones you need to put aside for the time being.
Create a Plan, Implement the Plan
Each project always includes planning at the beginning. This is so you have a clear set of goals you can finish from the start. From renovating your house, creating more space for your workplace, to completing the goals you need to accomplish at work, you should always be specific and concise with these plans.
Once you’ve listed them down or determined them, you should set the plan in motion. Don’t be discouraged if your plans don’t always work—that’s why you have plans B and C. Have a logical order of which steps you need to complete first before tackling the others, so you’re not overwhelmed.
Allow for More Ventilation
Creating a workspace in your home should be your priority when remotely working. You should make sure that it is pandemic proof as well. If you can, aim for more ventilation in your workspace. You should tackle this first; then, you take a look at your plans for more clarity.
Position your remote work office near windows to get as much air and light into your office. Establishing your office near a window also provides you with as much natural light as possible, which will help you save more on electric bills.
Position for More Lighting During Work
Like previously mentioned, aim for more natural lighting in your remote working area. It’s a good thing because you’ll need all the sunlight you can get, even if it’s filtered a bit through the windows. This also helps you use sunlight instead of artificial light.
It can also give you the transformation you want if you’re looking to add something new to your home. Consider using energy-saving bulbs and lighting in your home. You’ll benefit from the reduced electricity bills you’ll get. Use window shutters that can also let in more natural light in your home.=
Remote working has become a big part of the everyday office life of people. Consider yourself lucky if one of your problems is how to make your home office more like your regular one. Work your best but try not to stress yourself out—everyone is stressed during the pandemic. Work instead to make the most out of your remote working situation.
