Since the pandemic, the number of people working from home has increased. Even with the administration of vaccines, the remote-work population will continue to grow.
The COVID-19 pandemic came with lessons and ushered in new ways of thinking. If you can get the job done from the comfort of your home, why bother commuting to an office space so far from home?
The following will help you set up your home office.
1. Choose a space in your home. Most Nigerians do not build their homes with a room specifically for an office. So if you didn’t originally build your house with provision for an office area, you need to choose a suitable part or space of your house, a spare room or repurpose a bedroom to use as an office.
There are a couple considerations when deciding on a home office area. You need to think about ventilation and natural light. It is advisable to pick a room with a window. There might be air conditioning in the room but you would need a window for natural air and light as well. You have to ensure that the space is of the right size based on the items that will be in it such as desk, chair, shelf, etc. You also have to consider comfort.
2. Throw in the essentials. Once a suitable space is chosen to be an office area, you move on to picking needed furniture. Here you are considering functionality.
You bring in your desk. It should be wide enough to accommodate your computer, files, lamps and other items you will need throughout the day. For your chair, if it didn’t come with the desk as a set, you can get a chair that has good cushioning, a chair that won’t leave you with back pains at the end of the day. If you find an adjustable one, good for you.
Move over to shelf. The size depends on the quantity of materials, books and files you work with. It could also be that you want the shelf to serve decor purposes in your space.
If you will have teammates or clients coming in, make sure to provide room with comfy chairs for them to sit.
3. Lighting. At least one window should be in your office space for natural air and light as earlier mentioned. However, it is important to add lights. There could be a light bulb for the entire room but you will need functional lighting.
You can have a task light for close up work and lamps for ambient light. Don’t be afraid to add life and feel to your office space. This contributes to productivity.
4. Manage clutter. Home office needs to be properly organised. Keep a bin and empty it at the end of the day. Do not be comfortable with papers around or a disorganised desk and shelf. Keep your work space in order all the time.
What do you think should be added to this list?
