Creating conducive workspaces at home

With the world still in the cusp of COVID-19, many companies have decided to develop and implement work-from-h0me arrangements for their employees.

Workers can now hit performance metrics at home, check in and out online and meet their teams in virtual meeting places. Some employers are now even looking to implement a WFH scheme (partial or full) until December. It thus seems that work will still be done in the house for quite a while.

Working from home, however, poses unique challenges. If the workspace is not conducive, an employee could lose focus and motivation, communication within a cell group at work could suffer and, ultimately, productivity could nosedive. So how does one make their WFH station inspiring and conducive?

Here are some must-haves.

Desk. Some have opted to work from their dining table or in bed but, especially if you are one who struggles with compartmentalization, carving out room for a desk will be rewarding. There are many options out in the market: from hardwood to DIY, and wide to compact. Purchase one based on your budget, personality and available space.

Chair. Complete the look and feel, so to speak. Pick an office chair that screams “professional” onscreen during a virtual meeting and keeps you comfortable for the long hours at work. Above all, make sure the chair you get is ergonomically good for you.

Divider. One element that can help with both aesthetics and organizing is a divider. WFH means that, now more than ever, you are responsible for your own mess. With no utility worker helping you manage your clutter and no human resource department sending you a memo, it’s all on you to organize. Throw in some books and figurines, will you?

Bulletin. As in your workstation at the office, a visual reminder of what you must absolutely do and what you can put off for later can help. Buy yourself a cute bulletin board, memo pads, checklists and other stationery that can help you monitor how much you’ve accomplished and how much more awaits.

Desk lamp. Not all people are blessed with a well-lit space at home. But we need adequate lighting to ease the strain on our eyes—and to show our faces during the virtual meeting. As such, make sure that you have a trusty lamp. Get yourself one that reflects your taste and personality.

Extension cord. Especially for those who work with a lot of devices, this is a handy addition. Surely, no one will benefit from charging their work phone in the kitchen and their laptop in the living room. Do make sure that you buy your power strip from a reputable company. Don’t scrimp and end up gutting your workstation and the rest of your address.