Increase Productivity & Creativity: 6 Upgrades For Your Home Office

As we enter year three of continuing to work from home, that makeshift office space isn't up to the task anymore. More than two years into COVID-19, a wide abundance of us are still working from home. What we thought would be a temporary setup in 2020 has, for many, become the way we will be working for the foreseeable future.

Experts say this even after COVID-19 is over, we'll continue to work in a hybrid setup where we divide our time between our home office and the company office. Some companies are going to relocate some of their employees to permanent work-from-home positions. A survey of 2000 companies revealed that about one-quarter of them plan to move at least 20% of their employees to off-site locations.

If you're one of the 20% whose switching to working from home for good, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

• You need to make sure your workspace is comfortable and conducive to productivity.
• You need to set up clear boundaries between work and personal time.
• You need to be disciplined about sticking to your schedule.

Now that we are closing in on year three of the digital age, it's the time to rethink our home office indices to make them more functional, more professional and more relaxing. If you've been working all day long at your kitchen island, perched on a bar stool and buried in a pile of papers, it might be time for a change. Here's 6 ways how to better refine your home office to suit your requirements.

Section 1: Upgrade your space

The first thing you need to do is address your physical space. Unless you are part of a minority though, more often than not, you do not have any separate room in your home that you can call the office. In that case, select a spot in your home and make that your workplace. Come to think of it, it could be a counter or a corner in your dining area or in your living room. Wherever it is, focus solely on that spot every day, and stick to it unwaveringly. Do not scope around from spot to spot.

If you lack a separate room to configure as a home office, a room divider is a convenient means to partition off a little bit of solitude in a larger space. Use a folding-style divider that you can readily drag away and store at the end of each workday or window curtains to create privacy.

Create a permanent divider with freestanding bookshelves of various sizes so you can efficiently screen out distractions in each space. Dividers will also give you optimal privacy and prevent outside noise from disturbing you. Consider using a white noise machine or investing in noise-canceling headphones that can eliminate even more background noise.

Section 2: Upgrade your desk & chair

It used to be that it was the employer's duty to manage ergonomic issues, typically concerning developing a work environment that supports the worker's well-being and provides comfort while at work. Now it's your responsibility. Make sure that you have what you need to stay in shape and comfortable while you're at work. Instead of slouching on the sofa hunched over your laptop, select a work area that offers you the correct support and height.

Stand up whenever possible to avoid paying a long time sitting, and consider getting a separate flat screen monitor stand to elevate your screen to the best possible viewing angle. If you're going the DIY approach, consider mounting your own LCD screen on top of a couple of thick books, particularly if you're prone to carpal tunnel. Ergonomic furniture can avert carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle strains and lower back injury.

Section 3: Upgrade your lighting

In a home workspace, the right lighting is essential to creating a productive atmosphere. It helps influence your mood, your productivity and the way you look during Zoom meetings. Don't settle for a single overhead light. You need numerous light switches so that you can change the type of lighting for specific tasks.

Obtain an adjustable desk lamp for task lighting, so you can point a beam of light in the exact direction you want it. You may also place a light indirectly by a computer or floor lamp that causes diffuse light through a lampshade or emits light from a wall or ceiling. Its objective is to make the space soft and relaxing.

To provide yourself a suitable environment for conference calls, think about investing in a ring light. This isn't just for vanity; it's essential. Since so much of our communication is done via videoconferencing instead of across a table, the people we are speaking with need to be able to see our faces. Beyond infrared lights and LED lighting, you have the perfect setting for you and your Zoom lighting if you have natural light with which to work. Having sunlight in your face at your desk is thought to decrease your drowsiness, headaches, and sleepiness, as well as improve your mood and make you less susceptible to eye strain.

Section 4: Upgrade your storage

It looks as though it goes without saying, let's be frank: When was the last time you cleaned your desk? Yeah, that's what we thought. Well, now's the time. Throw out anything that needs to be thrown out, put those stray pens into one decorative container and use one drawer for paper piles. Make very sure you have everything you need for your job at hand, and move everything else off your desk.

If you work from home, it's important to have a space that is both comfortable and conducive to productivity and a cluttered desk is a surefire way to kill them. Ovens, coffee pots, and stacks of unread documentation can cause problems when you are on Zoom too closely. Cluttering your workspace is not just about appearances, however. Experts say that dense and disorderly workspaces have perceptible negative impacts on your stress levels and mental health. Take some time to declutter and organize your workspace. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes. One way to achieve this is by upgrading your storage.

Having organized and easily accessible storage can help you be more productive and creative in your work. Here are some storage upgrades that can help increase productivity and creativity in your home office:

1. Get a bigger and better filing cabinet. A good filing system is essential for any home office. Investing in a quality filing cabinet will help you keep your space organized and tidy.

2. Upgrade your shelving. Shelves are a great way to store books, files, and other materials. If you have limited space, consider getting shelves that are taller and/or deeper so you can maximize storage capacity.

3. Install additional outlets. Outlets with USB ports are great for charging all of your electronics. The outlets can help you avoid the hassle of tangled cords.

4. Add a desktop organizer. A desktop organizer is useful for storing pens, pencils, paper clips, and other small items.

Section 5: Upgrade your background

One of the first amusements of the pandemic was The Voice Room Rater, a Twitter account that touted and ridiculed the setups of commentators who appeared on cable news channels on Zoom and Skype calls while they were in their makeshift offices. Poor lighting, crowded bookcases, and messy shelves received a rating of 5 out of 10; tasteful art or considerate bookshelves received a rating of between 9 and 10.

Now that we see the drill, we'll be sure to keep the home workspace clean and uncluttered. If you have room, use your discretion and let your style shine through. Hang your favorite piece of art, or arrange a collection of assorted books and objects on your bookshelves. If you cannot modify your background, consider using filters to create a virtual backdrop, or blur your background to make it less of a distraction.

Section 6: Upgrade your workspace personalization

The best thing about working from home is that it's exclusively your space and should not be dependent on approval from your employer or employers to make the location you work reflect your personality. Hang art on the walls that mean something to you. Surround yourself with tropical plants. Place the dog's bed near your desk so your pet can snooze at your feet while you work. Set up an aromatherapy diffuser, and paint the walls your favorite color. Create an inspiration board and fill it with things that make you cheerful, like impressions of your family, friends and pets or pictures of your dream vacation destination.

This space is yours, you are free to put anything that makes you happy, calm and productive in line of sight.