- Carmel Homes
How to build the best home office
Updated: Apr 14, 2022
Working from home allows us to spend more time in our local communities, whether it's at a local cafe or park! Start off the week on the right foot by improving your workstation's efficiency in order to increase productivity - but while still prioritizing your well-being. Of course, decluttering (you probably don't need a tiny army of coffee mugs), but once you’ve done that you can read on for more tips to make your home office work for you.
Identify What You Need
What you'll need in your workplace is determined by the sort of work you do. If you're a graphic designer, for example, you might require both a little desk for your computer and a bigger table or workspace for your artwork. An advisor may need additional storage space or a place to meet with clients at an office. A photographer may want an in-home studio or storage space for props and lighting equipment.
Create a detailed list of your needs for a home office and set up a space that meets those requirements before you arbitrarily claim a corner in one of your rooms and decide that it's "good enough."
Stand Up
Whether you purchase a standing desk or simply remind yourself to take occasional stretch breaks, remember that movement matters. Try to alternate between sitting and standing: Spend one hour standing for every one to two hours sitting or take the simple step of replacing two minutes of sitting time every hour with a quick stroll around the house. While you’re on your feet, go outside every four hours to pump that heart and get your body’s essential dose of Vitamin D. These brief mental rest periods break up the workday and can improve your focus, but it's easy to forget about time when you're working from home. Before you know it, you've worked 14 hours for the third day in a row. You can be back in that Zoom meeting in no time by taking advantage of the short distance to the local gym!
Less screen time
To reduce eye strain, you'll want to have sufficient lighting in your workspace. Choose a sunny spot near a window, or supplement overhead lighting with a floor or table lamp. Warm light, such as from firelight, promotes relaxation. Cold light, such as daylight, improves productivity and alertness. That's what you want in your home office. Windows and exposure to daylight can also impact your physical and mental well-being.
If your eyes feel overly tired, add another source of light, or adjust the position of the current lighting. Keep in mind the 20-20-20 rule: For every 20 minutes spent using a screen, you should look at something 20 feet away from you for at least 20 seconds.
Plant Everywhere
Plants bring a touch of nature inside while providing both oxygen and creative inspiration. Try a series of succulents on the windowsill, pick a potted philodendron for the corner of your desk, or brighten the room with a bamboo palm for maximum air purification. Need more flora inspiration? Ferns are trending for 2022.
Set Aside a Place for Gadgets
It's easy to become distracted when you don't have a supervisor or manager looking over your shoulder all the time, and this is especially true if you keep your gadgets with you in your office.
Research published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research found that having their smartphones accessible reduces workers' productivity, especially if they're already prone to overusing their phones. This is the case even if the power is off so the phone isn't chirping, binging, or vibrating.
You probably can't afford those wasted hours if you're self-employed, and your employer will likely scrutinize your work carefully to make sure you aren't doing other tasks while you're being paid for working if you telecommute.
Make the table the center
Take a lesson from corporate workspaces that encourage client and co-worker interaction. When you work from home, instead of facing the wall, turn your desk to the room. Your eyes may bounce around rather than be focused on the paint barely inches in front of your nose! Cable sleeves or ties can help you simplify your jumbled mess of electronic cables. Even if the only co-worker you regularly see is your pup, you’ll feel more like a professional and less like a kid in the corner.
The more efficiently you work the sooner you can wrap up your day to spend quality time with loved ones and enjoy the many spectacular features of the community! As you choose which floorplan your knockdown and rebuild should have, make sure you get us to design and build the right home office for you. Remember that we’re always here to help. Contact us today!
