Who would have thought a pandemic would make the dreams of most workers – skipping the hassle of the daily commute and having a flexible schedule – come true? To ensure the safety of everyone, many corporations have accepted a work-from-home set-up, and it may be the new norm going forward.

While working from anywhere at home is feasible, areas like the dining table and family room devoted to other functions can be prone to distractions. Hence, designating a workspace where you will be most productive without compromising comfort is of paramount importance.

Secure a Comfortable Ambiance

Position Your Workspace Near a Window

Natural light boosts productivity by keeping you alert, engaged, and focused on your tasks. The absence of light, on the other hand, triggers your body to release melatonin that causes you to be sleepy and lethargic. Not to mention, poor lighting can cause eye strain and headaches. In setting up your desk, make sure it’s perpendicular to the window, as much as possible facing north or south to avoid glare and casting of shadow.

Buy a Desk Lamp

If natural light isn’t possible or sufficient, getting a desk lamp is a smart move. A powerful but not too bright light is suitable for reading, and a subtle and discreet one if you want to reduce eye strain caused by your computer. Place your lamp on the opposite side of your dominant hand and angled away from the screen to prevent casting shadows.

Consider Having a Plant

According to research, plants help reduce air pollutants and can relieve dry eyes and headaches. In addition, they increase alertness by creating a more relaxed atmosphere. Before buying a plant, consider your location, amount of light in your area, and whether it requires high maintenance. If you are a busy person, Chinese evergreen, snake and spider plants are good choices as they are low-maintenance and great for small spaces.

Decorate your Work Space

One of the perks of working from home is you get to personalize your workspace. Just keep it simple and add a splash of yellow, blue, and green as these colors boost happiness and productivity levels. Invest in a workspace that will make your work bearable and enjoyable.

Maintain an Ideal Room Temperature

Studies have shown that work performance improves when the ambient temperature is 21-22 degrees Celsius. Ensuring the right room temperature in your workspace is important because it can affect your productivity, work performance, and health. Make sure you’re comfortable. Failure to do so can lead to cold-related medical problems and fatigue. Also, do not place your workstation under an air conditioner.

Keep Your Workspace Clean and Tidy

Declutter & Clean

Do you sometimes find yourself flustered with work because you’re getting distracted by the messy paperwork on your desk? This is why decluttering is necessary. Visual clutter competes for your attention, leading to feelings of guilt and anxiety as it reminds you of unfinished tasks. Instead of stacking them on your desk, have separate storage for files and things that you rarely use. Decluttering and cleaning come hand-in-hand. As you tidy up your workspace to remove the clutter, it makes perfect sense to dust and clean so you don’t breathe in the accumulated dust into your lungs. Tidying and cleaning can be easily resolved by hiring a local cleaning service company near you. Often, the easiest option is to find a reputable cleaning company instead of an individual cleaner as you have more options. Companies will have plenty of teams available who will clean your home efficiently on your preferred dates and times. In our Indianapolis house cleaning service location, tidying and decluttering of surfaces is always included. However, if the items are confidential, simply add a comment to skip the work desk and our cleaners will not touch any items on there.

Manage Your Cables

Tangled cables on the floor, aside from being unsightly to look at and painstaking to disentangle, can cause tripping accidents. If it’s impossible to go for wireless accessories, tie the cables together, or buy a desk cord organizer.  Amazon has plenty of options for you to be rid of cable spaghetti. Many can be attached to furniture or against the wall with a strong adhesive.

Improve Work Efficiency

Use a Whiteboard

Having a physical reminder of your to-do list and priorities for the day helps you to stay on track.

Invest in an Ergonomic Chair

Poor posture can cause neck and lower back pain, which can affect your productivity. Thus, it is important to use a comfortable desk and chair, especially if you’re going to spend 7-8 hours in front of your computer. The HermanMiller Aeron Chair is a good investment since it comes with a head cushion and adjustable lumbar support, armrest, and seat. If you are looking for a cheap ergonomic chair, go for Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair. For gaming fans, a Secret Lab chair emblazoned with your favorite gaming logos will be a no-brainer.

Ensure a Reliable Internet Connection

High-speed internet is a necessity, especially if you are working from home as it can affect productivity. Having persistent slow internet access? Adding a Wi-Fi repeater or Wi-Fi repeater can be of great help in amplifying the wifi signal. You can also limit the devices that are connected to the Wi-Fi at the same time.

Invest in a Second Monitor

Having a dual monitor allows you to do multitasking instead of shifting tabs, which increases your productivity.

Invest in Noise-canceling Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones help you to focus on your tasks while reducing the stress from sensory overload. If you want to block out unwanted noise, a set of noise-canceling headphones is the best option. Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are popular for providing users with superior sound quality and comfort. Apple fans can consider using the latest Airpods Pro that come with a noise cancellation feature.