Are you one of the many people who are working from home during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic? Perhaps you’re planning on heading back to the office but on a part-time basis?
Let’s face it. This pandemic has left a lot of us uncertain as to when the work-from-home situation ends. As a result, it becomes complicated when planning how much effort, time, and money one should invest in creating a workspace at home.
There are one too many advantages to working from home. The biggest advantage is the fact that you save on commuting time. And while many people think that working from home means you can work from your couch, or even from the bed, this will only reduce your productivity.
A proper workspace at home allows you to stay productive and work more efficiently. However, before you get too invested in creating a home office, we have shared some simple tweaks you can make to level up your home office.
Let’s dig in!
Plugin Your AirPods or Headphones
It’s the era of the AirPods, however, there are still many people using headphones, as AirPods might not seem like a wise purchase because of their price. You can get a pair of headphones for between $10 to hundreds of dollars.
There are some that cost thousands of dollars, and their sound quality is seamless. But, if you’re someone who rarely uses headphones, then getting a pair of inexpensive ones is a better option.
Headphones are a necessity for remote work, as it comes in handy during video conferencing, and especially if you’re presenting, a pair of headphones will improve the way you sound to your colleagues.
If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can get noise-canceling headphones that can tamp down your surroundings. Moreover, headphones allow you to stay more focused because there will be less distraction.
Raise Your Monitor or Laptop
When you use your laptop or computer, your eyes should always be leveled with the top of the monitor screen. In fact, the monitor or screen is usually too low. This is how you end up having to crane your neck or hunch over.
There are two solutions. If you use a desktop or monitor in your home office, you can add some thick books under its base to increase it to a more comfortable height.
Whereas, if you’re using a laptop, you will need some extra equipment, such as a laptop stand and a keyboard and mouse. The stand will add a couple of inches of height. That said, don’t type on your laptop’s keyboard when the device is on the stand, as it might cause injuries to your shoulders and wrists.
Have Lighting Around for Video Calls
In all honesty, you don’t have to get much done to look good on video call. Moreover, it’s always worth the effort. When attending video conferences from home, it’s important to have good lighting around.
Try experimenting with different parts of your home to find the perfect spot for video calls. This space might be in a place where you can’t get your usual work done. Find a spot that has natural lighting to brighten your face.
Also, it’s vital that you ensure your back isn’t facing the window or lamp, as it will completely cast a shadow over your face. If the room you’re in is a little dark, you can add a table lamp to brighten the room.
Create Space for Chargers
It’s important to keep the charger you use at your workspace. This allows you to quickly charge the battery of your phone, or laptops if they start to run low. That way, you won’t have to run around the house searching for a cord.
If you have a drawer in your work desk, you can easily store al yor charge sand cables in there. You could also get a coffee mug or an empty box to store your chargers.
Scent the Air
It’s always nice to scent the air as it creates a nice word ambience. You can put an inexpensive scented candle on your desk or even consider buying a diffuser. According to aromatherapy, certain fragrances can help you feel calm.
However, you don’t have to believe in aromatherapy as scents itself have a way of making the environment cheery.
Conclusion
There are more than just these five ways to level up your home office, but we feel these are the best one out there. In fact, you can also consider investing in a smart speaker from FirstEnergy, to put meeting reminders and alerts.
