With so many people having transitioned to working from home, investments are being made into improving their home office setup. While the offices they would have worked at would invest a lot of money into quality desks and computers for their employees, support for those working from home is remarkably different. Only recently have companies begun providing their employees with an allowance to improve their home setup, especially since it has become apparent that working from home will be much more common. With that said, below are 5 items that you should get to improve your home office.
1) A desk with adjustable height
While you may have been used to sitting at a desk all day, this is certainly not beneficial for your body. While they may be ergonomic to a certain extent, go one step further and purchase a desk that can be raised and also be used as a standing desk. It is well known that sitting in one position for extended periods of time can cause blood circulation issues, so having a desk you can work at while standing can be extremely beneficial for not only your health but your productivity. These desks are also not any bigger than a normal desk so you won?t worry about any extra space being consumed.
2) An ergonomic chair
If you do find yourself in a position of sitting down for the majority of your day, make it easier on yourself by investing in a good quality, ergonomic chair. Just as you should invest in a good quality mattress (seeing as you spend a third of your life sleeping), you could potentially be spending the same amount of your week sitting at your desk so why not invest in something comfortable and durable. Not only are good quality chairs built to be long lasting and comfortable, but they are often specifically designed to reduce stress on the body. In the long run, this is priceless.
3) An air purifier
Investing in ensuring the air you?re breathing has become ever more important since the Covid pandemic began, but in actuality, our air quality has been degrading for a long time. Cities are filled with pollution, dust and allergens which seep into our homes and can cause breathing difficulties. Like the last two items, if you are staying in the same area for eight-plus hours a day, you should certainly think about investing in making it as comfortable as possible. An air purifier is a great way of improving the cleanliness of the immediate environment around you and others.
4) A room scheduler
Working from home means likely distractions from your kids or family in general. Although you don?t need to invest in a digital one that many offices have, having a written room scheduler would be useful to show who is scheduled to use the room at any given time. Have a whiteboard scheduler outside your living room if you want to inform others that you are in a meeting, or if the kids need the room for classes at any point in the day. This is one of my essentials for staying organised and distraction-free at home.
5) Plants
This would almost certainly be the cheapest upgrade on the list, and could even be free if you get one from your garden or plant the seeds yourself. Plants can not only look good, but they are also great for cleaning the air. Think of them as a natural air purifier (although not as effective), and they can look great too. Add some colour to your surrounding area while you work – studies have shown this to be a mood enhancer along with natural light. You don?t need a whole forest by your side either – a small, low-maintenance plant such as a snake plant would make itself right at home on the corner of your desk. Just don?t forget to water it!