Working from home is the new normal. The COVID-19 pandemic that swept the globe in 2020 and 2021 has permanently changed the labor market landscape for the better.

Before the pandemic, working from home was a rarity – only allowed for some niche roles or workers that didn’t need to be present in the office, such as analysts and number crunchers.

However, COVID lockdowns forced millions of people into remote work, proving that most roles can be performed remotely and with an uptick in productivity. 

But what if you’re new to working from home and don’t have a great idea of what makes a great home office setup. Well, you’re in luck because this helpful article will share the best ways to create your home office environment for a productive, ergonomic working method. Read on to discover more.

Invest An A Standing Desk

There are several reasons why a standing desk (like those on standdesk.com.au) is superior to a standard desk, and they all have to do with ergonomics. Sitting for extended periods puts pressure on your spine, hips, neck and shoulders.

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Those who sit for eight hours or more per workday inevitably feel stiff and sore after work. If you sit for too long, you can even risk a strain or injury to those areas of the body mentioned before.

A standing desk mitigates this risk of becoming too stiff, sore or straining your back or neck when at work. Most standing desks allow you to alternate between sitting and standing, which is the best approach as it gives you a break from both positions.

Another benefit to standing desks is that you can feel more productive when standing up, as your blood is circulating better and potentially giving your brain and body more oxygen, which can boost your performance at work.

External Monitor, Keyboard And Mouse

You don’t want to work from a small laptop all day long for similar reasons that we’ve listed above. From an ergonomics perspective, it is quite a risk of strain on your hands, wrists, eyes, neck, shoulders and back.

The best approach is to invest in a wireless external monitor, keyboard and mouse to allow for an ergonomic approach. Also, this is a better way to use a laptop from a productivity perspective. The more comfortable you are, the better your work output will be.

A Fast And Stable Internet Connection

If you want to work from home, you need a fast, secure and stable broadband internet connection. Dongles and mobile internet plans don’t offer the speed and stability that a wired broadband connection will.

If you don’t have excellent internet, you should shop around for a company that can provide this. You may also want to invest in your own router, as the stock routers supplied by Internet Service Providers (or ISPs) are often not fast or stable enough to handle work from home. 

A Printer/Scanner

It’s imperative to own a printer scanner combination appliance when working from home. For instance, if you have to read lengthy documents as part of your role, this can be difficult to do on the screen, mainly if notifications and emails can distract you.

By printing out the papers to read, you can step away from the home office room and get comfortable in your loungeroom to read. Also, the scanning function makes this possible if your role requires signing and uploading documents.

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A Good Pair Of Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Another must-have for a home office setup is a decent pair of noise-cancelling headphones. These are particularly useful if you share a house with others, such as housemates or family members.

You can use these to listen and talk in meetings without being distracted by external noise. They will also come in handy if noisy work occurs or garden power tools are used nearby while you work. 

House Plants

Our final home office tip is to get some hardy houseplants to spruce up your office space. House plants will scrub the air of impurities and provide an aesthetic benefit. Hardy, difficult-to-kill plants are recommended if you’re a novice green thumb. Still, if you have plant experience, you could get some species requiring more care.

A Setup Summary

This helpful article has shared a few home office setup tips that will have you working from home efficiently and quickly in no time. A standing desk is essential, as are external equipment such as monitors, keyboard and mouse.

Consider upgrading your home internet provider if you need a faster or more stable connection and investing in a decent pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Follow these steps, and your home office will be a welcoming and comfortable place to work.