The Coronavirus pandemic has wreaked it’s havoc all over the world, and a lot of us are finding ourselves working from home. Be it temporary, or maybe the new normal, some still find working from the comfort of their homes cumbersome, and very distracting! That’s because creating a productive space isn’t as simple as plopping your laptop onto a coffee table and calling it a home office. It takes much more to create a peaceful and efficient space for you to do your best work in. Fret not and read on for some simple ways you can create and elevate your home office to be a healthier, and more productive one.

Find The Perfect Area

It’s important to dedicate a separate space for yourself to work in. Grabbing your laptop and settling in your favourite spot in the house isn’t exactly feasible, mostly because of the amount of distractions around you. Choosing a room or a quiet corner of the home to work in day in, day out, will not only separate your home life from your work life, but will also help keep you organised.

If you’re someone who cannot claim an area of the house as your own, because of family members or roommates, make your home office portable! Convert a kitchen trolley or wheeled laptop desk into an on-the-go office so you can work peacefully wherever is the quietest. If all else fails, invest in a pair of noise cancelling headphones for complete silence and optimal levels of focus.

Be Ready for Video Calls

Zoom meetings are the new norm as most offices, and conference rooms along with them, remain closed for obvious health and safety reasons. Rather than frantically finding a space five minutes before the call, keep one wall of your work area free of clutter and distractions to utilise as a makeshift conference room, and look like a true professional, even from home.

The All Important Chair

Good work starts with a good chair. If there is only one investment you can make towards your new home office, it should be a high quality desk chair. It will improve your posture, give you more energy, as well as more focus, meaning you can work that much more efficiently, happily and for longer lengths of time.

While lumbar support and adjustable height are important qualities of a desk chair, it all comes down to how you feel when you sit on it, so if you can, head down to an office supply store and test out different kinds of chairs first hand to find the perfect fit.

Keep it at Eye Level

You may be working from home, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re comfortable.The simplest and most effective way to reduce the strain on your eyes, arms, neck and shoulders while working is to elevate your computer screen so it’s at eye level or slightly lower. Place your laptop on a stack of books or magazines for a speedy solution. The less strained your body is, the more work you’ll get done in the long run.

Lighting is Key

Establishing a home office in a room with windows can vastly improve productivity and creativity. Bringing in more natural light by keeping windows clear of obstructions and positioning yourself so light comes in from the sides, rather than from in front or behind your computer will reduce the strain on your eyes. Research has shown that natural light in any workplace is linked to “general well-being”, “increased productivity”, and “better health”, while decreasing “the occurrences of headaches, SAD, and eyestrain.”

If natural light is impossible to attain, what with Pakistan’s burning hot weather, the next best thing is full spectrum light bulbs. Replace your current ones with a couple of full spectrums and feel your energy and productivity level increase instantly.

Add Some Greens

Plant productivity(literally) into your home office by accessorising your work space with a green friend. Research has time and time again shown that with plants around, “workers are more productive and had a 12 percent quicker reaction time. They were less stressed and had lower blood pressure.” Views of greenery, even in your peripheral vision, can help you feel rested and rejuvenated, allowing you to focus for longer. Plants will also improve air quality and remove carbon dioxide, which can affect mental energy.

And Finally, Light a Candle

Even though your workplace has shifted to your home, it’s still a stressful environment. This is where scented candles come in. Aromatherapy is no secret, so give yourself a mini session by lighting a beautiful candle and allowing the fragrance to tickle your senses and help you focus, while simultaneously reducing stress.

Make your home office your new favourite place to be and manage your workload like a pro by trying out these simple steps to elevate your workspace!