Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people working remotely has increased exponentially in recent weeks. Although much of the environmental benefit could revert as soon as manufacturing resumes normal pre-corona levels; the trend of home working could be here to stay - at least to some, increased, extent.
If that is the case, then it may well be worth investing some time, effort, and money into converting the spare room into a custom-designed home office. Start with a floor plan and go from there...
Find the Best Location in Your Home
Creating your home office starts with pinpointing the location. It may be the case that you’ll have to make do with a corner of the bedroom or the dining room table. If you are running your own business, however, as you expand and hopefully generate more profit, you may be able to invest in a separate room or location for your office.
Having a physical barrier between home and business is always helpful, as having boundaries can be vital for reducing stress levels. It can also help to prevent any arguments with the family who may unwittingly interrupt you in your work-flow mindset. If you do decide to invest in a separate home office, it can be worth weighing up the pros and cons of building an outhouse, an extension - or just buying a bigger house!
Start with the Right Chair
Bad backs and necks are a big problem. By its nature, sitting applies stress to the discs in the spine and the fact that you are going to be sat down for hours at a time makes finding the right chair a priority. Make sure that you invest in a chair that has adjustable seat height and lumbar support.
There are many alternatives available to the standard office chair. For example, you could purchase a standing desk instead. You can also use a stability ball instead of a chair - engaging your core which helps to support the spine.
Kneeling chairs are also popular; possibly because they are affordable, relatively small, and effective at relieving back pain.
The ultimate home office would have the space and budget to use several different types of chairs and desks. Rotating between chairs at set intervals during the day would be beneficial in terms of back pain and posture.
Decide What Computer Hardware & Software You Need
Unless you are old-school and prefer to write with a pen & paper, then investing in a computer of some sort will be necessary for your home office.
Yet before you consider the best choice for a laptop or a computer setup, you want to think about your Internet connection. Will the broadband be sufficient for the needs of a home office? You can easily run free speed tests online. Experts recommend a download speed of at least 10 Mbps for sending emails and browsing only. Video calls need at least 5 Mbps. So, if your speed test doesn’t show satisfactory results, you’ll need to look for other options. The best way to start searching is to open your search engine and type “Internet providers near me”. This will give you a list of all local service providers. Only then can you consider your hardware and software choices!
Using a laptop has many benefits, as you can work from any room that has a wifi signal. You can even work in the garden, weather-providing. If your budget is limited and you want to enjoy the benefits of both a laptop and a desktop computer, consider buying a laptop and a desktop monitor.
Connecting the laptop to the monitor typically involves connecting it with a single cable. With the addition of a mouse and a custom desk mat, you now have a desktop computer, that can quickly be disconnected to provide a portable laptop.
The ultimate office would no doubt have an Apple iMac Pro with a Macbook as a separate laptop. Go for the latest one, and if you have an old one it is better to ask how much my MacBook Pro is worth to a computer shop. If the worth of a Macbook Pro is enough to buy you a new one after adding a few more bucks, then go for it.
Get the Lighting Right
Gadgets Can Make You More Productive & Healthier
One of the great benefits of working at home is that you can kit the space out however you want it, without being judged by office colleagues.
Some of the gadgets that the ultimate office would no doubt contain, would include a SAD lamp, a grounding mat, a massage chair, a humidifier, and even a massage gun!
A SAD lamp is not just for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Check with your doctor before purchasing one - however, it is thought by many that if you are working indoors all day, investing in a SAD lamp can help you produce enough vitamin D3, serotonin, and melatonin to significantly improve your well-being and your mood - compared to working indoors and not getting any natural sunlight.
Grounding (or earthing) mats have been used by electricians for years. Not only do they protect you from potentially fatal electric shocks, but grounding mats also have several potential health benefits that are now supported by scientific research. The flow of ‘negative ions’ is said to reduce inflammation and regulate stress-hormone response. You can read more about the benefits of grounding mats in this scientific paper
Aches and pains can be a big problem if you are sitting down all day. As discussed previously, getting the right chair, or chairs, is a priority. In addition, a massage chair or cushion can help with circulation and tight muscles. Massage guns have also seen a huge increase in popularity recently, thanks to their ability to reduce muscle tension in specific spots, such as the hips, lower back, and neck.
A footrest, fan, and even a posture app - that uses your laptop's webcam to check your head position, are all additional gadgets that the ultimate home office is sure to be equipped with.
A Virtual Receptionist to Take Calls
No self-respecting office would be complete without its receptionist. Most home offices don't have room for a full-time employee but this should not prove an issue thanks to the number of telephone answering apps available.
With a virtual receptionist app like the ones available from Moneypenny and Astraqom, you can enjoy many of the benefits of a full-time hire, without having to invest in a separate desk within your office. With the 24/7 service, you also enjoy the luxury of switching off mentally, knowing that your virtual receptionist will handle all of your incoming calls; disturbing you only in an emergency.
Plants Are Great for Air Quality
Plants not only improve the air quality in an office, but they also improve the mood of those around them.
In one study:
"participants reported higher levels of mood, perceived office attractiveness, and (in some cases) perceived comfort when plants were present than when they were not present".
The best plants for oxygen production include Motherinlaw’s tongue (sounds lovely) and the Areca Palm, whereas the money plant is said to be the best plant to have in the office or home in terms of air purification.
If you live in a highly polluted area, it’s possible that having several plants (at least four) in your office, could reduce the incidence of dry eyes and even improve lung function.
Just make sure that children and animals can’t get to the plants for a quick nibble, as many of them are poisonous.
A Room with a View
The ultimate home office would enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the sea - with blinds or a tint so that you could still see your monitor and use the top-of-the-range iMac!
Research conducted by American scientists using data from New Zealand found that people who enjoyed a view of the ocean were significantly happier than those who didn’t. The data was so compelling that the researchers recommended that more affordable housing should be built near coastlines so that more people could enjoy the benefits of a ‘blue view’. If you don't live especially near the coast, perhaps you could convert a campervan into a mobile office?
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