4 Things You Need to Set-up your Home Office, long-term

Working from home helped people, businesses and organisations all get through the initial hit of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

However, what first seemed like a temporary solution has now developed into a new work culture that’s here to stay for the long term. Now, working from home is seen as part of the post-pandemic future as it offers benefits to both employers and employees. For instance, the home office setup has resulted in improved well-being, less travel time, reduced travel costs and an improved work-life balance among employees.
In a recent McKinsey & Company’s consumer survey, 41% of employees said they were more productive working remotely than in an office.

Now that everyone understands how remote working really works and it is becoming a viable option for employers, it’s time to think about the things you need to set up in a longer-term home office. After all, it doesn’t look like this trend will change any time soon.

To help you, here are 4 things you should consider to set-up your home office for both now and into the future.

1. Create and stick to your routine.

Start by planning your regular wake-up time. Allot at least 30 minutes before work to wake up properly as if you were going to work – because, you are! Eat your breakfast and get your caffeine fix. Most people find these routine cycles helpful in starting their day on a positive note as it puts them in the right mindset.
Creating a working from home routine also includes adhering to your regular office hours. Remember, the key to work-life balance is knowing when to start and finish. If your shift ends at 4pm, don’t be tempted to extend for an hour or two just because you know you’re just at home.

2. Have the services or supplies to support your office setting.

One of the main tech headaches of working from home is when your Wi-Fi slows down to a crawl or you’re having IT issues. Unreliable internet connections and faulty tech will affect your performance. According to McKinsey Global Institute, one impediment to productivity is connectivity. So, constantly take a speed test and assess if your Internet provider is still dependable.

The Home Office’s expert team of IT consultants can assist you in supporting your IT related problems and will ensure that your home office space is working seamlessly and free of any tech issues.

Having good office supplies at home is also helpful in undertaking your daily tasks. For instance, always keep a pen and paper within your reach so you can grab them anytime you need to write something down. It sounds obvious until you don’t have them.

3. Double your visibility.

Working from home is not an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ situation. Given that you’re more distant from your colleagues than before, it’s important to “double your visibility” through effective communication. Don’t fall out of the loop.

In The Home Office market research that we undertook, a lack of social interaction ranked first as the biggest concern when working from home. So, what can you do to eliminate this? Stay well-connected with your colleagues, keep an open line and use online communication tools – anything that can help you maintain regular contact with your workmates. You may be physically apart, but the distance shouldn’t hinder collaboration.

4. Find the right furniture for you.

An important step in creating a productive and comfortable home office is getting the right furniture, especially since you’ll be spending half your day working there.

Start by investing in an ergonomic chair and desk, as they’re something everyone needs. Having uncomfortable or poor-quality furniture makes working from home something you want to avoid, and this is counterproductive. Don’t let bad home office furniture ruin working from home for you.

Make the right ergonomic choice and consider getting some assistance from an expert – The Home Office.

Let us help you set-up your home workspace for success.

No matter what your working from home preferences are, we will help you fit out your home office, find the ideal furniture and set-up your home space to boost both your productivity and your comfort.

The Home Office team can help you enjoy working within the comfort and safety of your own home, while keeping your boss happy. Visit our shop today for home office furniture packages or contact us on 1300 166 731 to know more.