In the UK, around a quarter of the working population spends at least some of the time working from home. If you’re a member of this demographic, then you might have already considered making a number of tweaks to your working environment. After all, among the many advantages of this working lifestyle is the freedom it gives you to adapt your workspace.
But exactly which changes will yield the greatest uptick in productivity? It’s a question worth pondering. Let’s take a look at the tweaks that really make a difference.
Choose the Right Space for Focus
You’ll want to start from an environment that’s distraction-free. This typically means choosing an area of the home that’s quiet and out of the way. If other members of the household are constantly walking into your office and interrupting you, then you might find it difficult to attain a state of deep focus. Purpose-built sheds and adapted garages are ideally, largely for this reason.
Invest in Ergonomic Furniture and Equipment
The furniture you choose can play a big role in driving down fatigue, and fending off long-term health problems. If you find that you’re constantly having to lean over to see what’s on your monitor, then it’s reasonable to expect neck problems after a few years.
What can make a difference is the right furniture. Look for a comfortable, supportive chair, and a desk that’s parallel to your elbows. Remember, however, that even the best chair isn’t a substitute for regular exercise and stretching.
Optimise Your Digital Tools and Connectivity
Most remote workers will rely, to some extent, on the quality of their internet connection. Even if you’re just sending the occasional document back and forth each day, and joining the occasional video call, high-quality tools might help you to present the best possible version of yourself.
This might mean installing a quality camera, as well as a microphone. Making sure that you have secure access to all of your data is also imperative. You might set up encryption on your storage drive, or invest in a dedicated cloud storage platform. Whatever path you follow, regular and automatic software updates, and secure passwords (composed with the help of a password manager) can make a big difference.
Set Boundaries and Build Healthy Routines
One ongoing challenge for remote workers is that of keeping work life and home life separate. This is especially difficult if you’re doing leisure activities in the same space you’re working in.
It’s difficult to understate the importance of routine, here. Set clear working hours, and try to stick to them. Take your breaks at regular, semi-structured intervals, and block distracting websites so that you aren’t tempted to procrastinate during hours set aside for work.
