By: Samia Anwar
Ever since the Novel Coronavirus was declared a global pandemic, working remotely home has now become a new norm. Many people had to make an abrupt shift to work from home, online schooling, and virtual meetings. Thus setting up a productive workspace is needed more than ever before. An average household now has at least two work-from-home stations. In some homes, there needed to be four or five setups. Even temporary workstations are created in family rooms, spare bedrooms, hallways, or basements, it is crucial to have an organized and efficient home office where all family members have access to things independently. Below are some of the ways you can improve the functionality of your home office.
1. Comfortable seating
There is sufficient research available to prove that being stuck in a chair for too long can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and worsen back pain. In fact, sitting too much is even worse than smoking. Consider having a comfortable chair in your home office to improve your posture, reduce back pain and ultimately improve productivity.
2. Desk
An ideal workstation should be around 29” from the floor to the top of the desk. You may look into more details by reading this booklet Office Ergonomics Handbook.
3. Stationery
Stock up on common stationery items and organize them based on the frequency of use. Add drawer inserts and utensil holders in the drawers to make commonly used items i.e. stationery items, headphones, chargers etc in an accessible manner.
Don’t forget to label it so other family members access it without having to call you over and over again.
4. Natural light
Numerous studies have shown that natural light in office spaces improves worker satisfaction and productivity. If a room is not naturally bright, make arrangements for adequate lighting.
5.Storage
Add more storage in your home office to store and organize to house current projects and paperwork in organizing solutions like a roll-out filing cabinet. Make sure to streamline any existing filing systems.
6.Utilize wall space
Maximize the wall space by installing shelves over your desk. Keep the workflow in mind when installing these accessories.
7.GOOS Bin
Save paper and save trees by having a GOOS bin (a bin that holds good on one side paper) in your home office. Post instructions on how to use GOOS bin paper on the printer so it’s easy for all users. Share tips on how GOOS paper can be used for draft work, quizzes, notes, and more. Shred important documents to prevent yourself from identity theft and to keep your desk uncluttered.
Fun tip: Looking for a fun way to get the kids to help clean your home office? Let them shred paper!
8.Self-care
Stay on task but take some time off for self-care. Take regular breaks to stretch your body. Drink plenty of water during the day and take some time off from work and house chores to refuel and re-energize.
You will see how following these steps will make a significant difference in keeping your routine stress-free.
About the Author:
Samia Anwar is a contributor at Muslimmoms.ca. She writes on home management, fun activities to get kids involved in house chores, how-to guides to staying on top of things, tips and tricks to stay organized, and share recipes. She is the mama of four wonderful kids who chose to help other women by starting her own business of Professional
Organizing. Her passion and struggles became a reason for what she is today. She loves being able to improve the quality of life for those who are ready to bring in a positive change. She believes that by living intentionally we can create a life where we can have more time;
- To spend with our lovely families
- To practice our faith
- To work on our passions
- To give back to the community
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