Still Working From Home? Here’s How To Revamp Your Workspace

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we are adaptable. We have learned that we can do our work from home. For some, it was challenging. For others, it was a lot better than being in a busy office filled with distractions and noise.

  1. Pros And Cons Of Working From Home  

The obvious benefit of working from home is no longer having to rush in the morning as you get to save time on your daily commute. You get to start your day in a more relaxed mindset which fuels a positive attitude.

Another benefit is that you avoid meaningless conversations as you are no longer easily approachable like when you are sitting behind your desk. Peace and quiet allow you to focus on work. When productivity increases, we get to perform tasks faster, allowing us even more time for other activities.

On the other hand, humans are social beings and without human interactions, we can feel lonely and depressed.  Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings cannot create that same kind of spontaneous interaction and spark creativity. However, being at home also makes you susceptible to distractions of your family as many parents find it impossible to work at home because they cannot manage their children.

By being on your own, you get to have more control of your work. Although some matters will be urgent and others will require deadlines, they will still be far easier if you can do them from your garden as opposed to not leaving a dark office before the work is done.

On the other hand, by not going to work, you get to move less which is bad for your health. Even worse, being at home means you have to refrain yourself from visiting the refrigerator too often.

Another disadvantage of working from home comes through higher expenses. Since you are home more, your utility bill will be higher. If you are planning on working from home for an extended period of time, you might want to consider comparing utility providers and Ohio electricity rates to find the most affordable rate. Additionally, not all companies will provide employees with allowances to buy the necessary equipment so creating your ideal home office can be expensive.

  1. Tips To Be Productive While Working From Home

Many of the core issues that remote employees are the same. Everyone who works remotely has issues to figure out when to work. Here are a few tips for a better and more productive remote-working life.

Make a schedule and stick to it

Although flexibility that remote working provides is a great thing, it can also be dangerous for your work/life balance. Plan your working hours, respect them and make scheduled breaks. Burnout is possible even if you are working from home so make sure you avoid it.

Set ground rules

Just because you are home does not mean you can do things you would usually do when you are home. So, make sure your household members know what they can expect of you so your productivity does not suffer. Having healthy boundaries is essential for your productivity and mental health in general.

Turn on your camera

Seeing the face of the person you are speaking to at least makes things a bit more pleasant as opposed to looking at an empty screen so unless you are in your PJs, extend that courtesy to others.

Make sure you communicate clearly

You don’t have to write a long essay to explain your every move, but make sure that your words are heard and understood by everyone. Remote working creates a lot of space for misunderstandings. Even repeat things if necessary to avoid any unpleasant events.

  1. How To Revamp Your Home Workspace

Productivity is the heart and soul of success and your workspace influences it quite a bit. Although the physical layout is important, it’s more about cultivating an atmosphere of productivity as an office is more than a building. Make sure your home office reflects the vibe of your company culture which should be your main source of motivation. But, it’s also a good idea to make sure you have plenty of natural light to brighten up the place and help you feel more energetic and creative. A plant can’t hurt to liven up the place as well.

Make sure your workspace is clean as a messy table invites errors and creates the perfect conditions for breaking a deadline and losing precious time while you are looking for something you need.

Most importantly, make sure you personalize your workspace to strengthen your emotional connection to your work. Although it should be done in moderation, emotions are the strongest fuel we have at our disposal so feel free to place a photo of those you love or your favorite place in the world.

Takeaway – Working from home can be hugely beneficial for many people, but it can also bring serious challenges to others. We are moving towards a new way of working and companies need to support their staff in making this transition. But, it is our responsibility to create our home office in a way that works best for us.