The Basics of a Home Office: An Insider Look at What You’ll Need
By: Katlyn Eriksen
At VIPdesk we enthusiastically support our team members working from their home offices in over 37 States across the country. This is the future of the modern workforce.
One in three U.S. employees that work from home enjoy a spike to their productivity, according to a study by Jabra. With more individuals choosing to work remotely, many are interested to find ways to keep workflow sustainable.
A good solution to that is to create a space where you can dedicate time for work or what is commonly called a home office.
If you’re looking to build your own work office or work shed, how do you go about it? We are going to dive into different ways to be productive in your home office.
Take the Temperature
The temperature of your home office can directly affect your productivity.
Work areas that carry a temperature from 68.9° to 71.6° Fahrenheit record increased performances, according to a study by Cornell University. The study goes on to note that having warmer temperatures in a home office reduces typing errors by 44%. Not to mention the energy savings.
You can always dress in layers to obtain the desired effect.
Put in a Pantry
A dip in productivity after lunch can be remedied with a light snack or a cup of coffee. In order to be most efficient with breaks you take, it’s good to add a pantry to your home office/shed. It minimizes your need to leave your office and promotes an intuitive working space.
It would be wise to invest in durable fixtures in your functional areas so you can minimize the need for repairs and have running water whenever you need it. The idea is to have an office space that has what you need nearby so you lessen disruptions.
Hook up Hardware
Once you’ve got the functional area down, it’s time to look at the office hardware that you’ll need. These involve a comfortable office chair, a sturdy desk (preferably a stand-up desk), and technology like printers, scanners, and computer screens.
The idea is to create a space where you will have everything that you need within the confines of your office. That way, you streamline your workflow as the applications or hardware you require will be right there.
Place Personal Touches
Office spaces that lack personal touches are not inspiring, according to a study published in PsycNET Journal. To combat this, it would be good to employ personal touches to your home’s office like family photos or your favorite art piece.
The same study reported that productivity increases by at least 15% when the environment is physiologically engaging to the worker. The end goal is to create a space that is both functional yet personal so you’ll be comfortable spending a lot of time there to get work done.
Hide Your Cell Phone – Reduce Distractions
There is a study by Amy Blankson, that illuminates the impact of even being able to visually see your physical phone. Every time you look at your phone, you lose 11 minutes of productivity.
If you look at it hundreds of times per day, you could be losing up to 2 hours of productivity. Amy’s advice? Place your cell phone out of your line of sight by hiding it behind your computer screen.
Don’t Forget the Doors
Home offices are often times makeshift. Making sure you have an option to create privacy is key to productivity! Having an open-door policy is our way here at VIPdesk, but the option to close it when concentration is needed is a must!
Having a door to your office can boost your concentration levels, close out unwanted distractions and allow you to be yourself on face-to-face interactions. Sometimes it’s just a good idea to shut yourself in and hunker down!
Nurture Nature
Including some potted plants in your home office is also a good choice for functional decor. Not only does it add a touch of nature, but it also helps remove 87% of air toxins in your workplace, as found by the study conducted by NASA.
The same study noted that having plants in your home office improves your concentration and productivity by an additional 15%. Green helps you relax and calm; allowing an environment for better work-related decisions.
Try choosing low maintenance plants like the Spider Plant, Peace Lily, and Cacti.
Close out Cables
Nothing can feel more stifling to productivity and creativity than wires snaking along the floor of your home office. A good trick is to organize them by identifying which cable goes for what by using ribbons or tags.
Mount your power strips underneath tables to keep them out of plain sight. Using command hooks along the sides of your desks can help cables stay out of sight and tucked away. A home office without wiring to trip over is not only safer but the lack of clutter helps promote better mental health.
Your home office is first and foremost your personal space.
So, when you’re creating it, be sure to consult your honest feelings so you won’t end up putting things that end up distracting you. The point is to create a space where you’ll actually get work done so keep that in mind that you’ll be off to a good start.
The VIPdesk team hopes that this article helps you to enable your home office to be the most productive it can be!
If you would like more information about VIPdesk careers, please check out our current openings on our Careers page.
Image Credit:
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