How to Set Up Your Home for Remote Working

Hybrid and fully remote work roles have become commonplace since the COVID-19 pandemic. If you work from home two, three, or five days a week, you'll need a dedicated work area with a solid Wi-Fi connection.

Below, we've listed our steps to make a stress-free, productive environment when working from home.

Designating a Dedicated Workspace

Setting up a work area separate from areas of your home where you relax will help you maintain focus and set boundaries between your professional and personal life. If you have a spare guest bedroom, you'll have plenty of space to work in, with an area for your desk, tech, chair, and storage without the need to tidy up every night. However, you may need to rearrange the room if guests come over.

You may need to work in the living room in a smaller home. If you don't live alone, there can be many potential distractions from the kids or people cooking in the kitchen, so noise-cancelling headphones can help you concentrate. Set up your living room workspace facing away from the TV and position it closer to the internet router.

Ensuring a Reliable Internet Connection

A strong internet connection is essential to working remotely successfully. It necessitates daily video calls with colleagues and file sharing. You'll need seamless access to cloud services and uninterrupted Teams calls to make communication with your team efficient.

If your internet speeds are slow, check fibre deals in your local area to find a deal that includes fast download and upload times, free router installation, and whole-home coverage. Upgrading to fibre from copper-based broadband will also improve your gaming experiences, with lower latency translating to less buffering and lagging.

Investing in Ergonomic Furniture and Equipment

Remote working means spending long hours in front of a screen, sitting behind a desk, which can cause aches and pains over time. An ergonomic office chair will support and enhance your posture and be adaptable to your body type and height. Look for models that discourage slouching, with a backrest that follows your spine's natural curvature.

Likewise, a height-adjustable desk allows you to sit or stand in different positions and move before becoming uncomfortable. Some models offer full floor-to-standing heights, allowing you to alternate between sitting on a mat on the floor, in a chair, and standing.

Optimising Lighting and Ambience

A well-lit room will help you avoid eye strain. Natural light is ideal, but if your room lacks an overhead or large window, include task lighting from a desk lamp. Desk lamps can be brighter and more directed than overhead lights, making them more functional for a high-use area like a desk.

Organiser desk lamps with built-in slots for pens and notebooks are a great way to reduce clutter in your workspace while providing illumination. Sun lamps that mimic natural light can also keep your mood up and boost productivity on dark winter mornings.

Establishing a Routine and Work-Life Balance

While remote working offers flexibility, it can quickly become stressful without a steady schedule. Maintaining a structured routine will help your work-life balance, so set clear start and finish times that mimic going into the office.

You can spend your 'commute' reading or listening to music before logging in and starting the work day. Once it ends, shut down your computer, stop checking your emails to unwind, and go to bed at the usual time to stay in a healthy sleep pattern.