6 tips for organising and improving your home office

A home office can be set up in a small space, but turning it into an optimal working environment takes time, attention and a few essentials. One of the benefits of working from home is that you don't have to spend hours travelling and can wear more casual clothes. But despite all the benefits, combining work and personal space can be challenging. A small space can be used as an office, but turning it into a full-fledged working environment takes time and effort, not to mention some essentials.

Maintain a comfortable climate

Many offices are notoriously cold, and that's probably because employers want everyone to be comfortable. If you're cold, you can wear a jumper, but if you're hot, there's not much you can do. A study by Cornell University found that raising the temperature in an office from 20°C to 25°C reduced typing errors by 44 per cent. Luckily, when you work from home, comfort is all you need. Try switching off the air conditioning and see if it affects your work. This will also save you money on your electricity bill, which is an added bonus.

Place your monitor at eye level

When you work remotely, it's easy to get distracted. You may start your workday at your desk and end it in the evening on the couch. Losing concentration is a bad habit, and working hunched over from the couch can affect your posture and vision. Choosing the right monitor for your home office can make you prefer to stay at your desk all day. Buying a monitor with a swivel mount is a good idea, as this will allow you to adjust it if you change your position. Also, if you have a laptop and you don't have room for a monitor on your desk, use a laptop stand and an external keyboard. Buying a monitor with a swivel mount is a good idea, as this will allow you to adjust it if you change your position. Also, if you have a laptop and there is no room on your desk for a monitor, use a laptop stand and an external keyboard. The monitor should be at eye level to avoid headaches. Other recommendations for proper monitor positioning from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) include the following:

• Keep the monitor between 50 cm and 1 m in front of you;
• Make sure the top of the screen is at or below eye level;
• Do not tilt the monitor more than 20°;
• Position the monitor perpendicular to windows to avoid glare.

Use natural light

If possible, try to position your desk near a window or in a place with plenty of natural light. If your home office is too dim or too bright, it can lead to eye strain, stress and fatigue. Researchers have been studying the effects of light on the body since 1979 and have concluded that natural light and natural views reduce stress, reduce headaches, and improve mood and morale. If you have no choice but to set up your home office in a windowless room with artificial light, it's best to take walks during the day. Even short moments of natural light can boost your motivation and engagement at work. You can also buy a solar lamp if you live in a cloudy climate.

Choose an ergonomic chair

A chair is perhaps the most important part of setting up your home office. If you don't have a comfortable chair, you'll have a hard time working remotely because you're likely to suffer from back pain and headaches. A comfortable chair will help you feel better about your projects. You will not be able to work well if you don't feel good. The best way to choose the right chair for your office is to try it out in person. Buying a chair online can be risky because you may not like it once it is delivered. If you go to a shop, you can try out different materials, depths and heights and determine which one best suits your needs.

Organising your workspace

Many people like to add personal touches to their home office. If you've recently started working from home, you may spend hours on Amazon looking for design ideas for your office. There's nothing wrong with this, but you can save time and money by knowing what items you should buy. These items are must-haves for your home office:

• Storage space: depending on your job, you may not use physical papers as often, so the amount of storage space is relative. You may need a filing cabinet or something small like a filing tray;
• A free standing desk: you'll probably want to add personal items to your desk, whether it's photos, plants or inspirational decor. Whatever you put on your desk, make sure you have enough space to move your hands, look at a screen and write with pen and paper. You should also limit the number of items on your desk to avoid distractions;
• Keep your computer tidy: keeping your desk tidy will help you focus on your tasks, but most of the work you do is probably on a Mac or PC. If you don't organise your applications on your desktop and know how to navigate your files, you'll have a harder time getting your work done. Getting your computer in order is an important step in setting up your home office;
• Second Monitor: It's worth investing in a second monitor. It can make your life much easier when working remotely. A second monitor will help reduce eye fatigue, improve your posture and increase productivity as you will have more space to work;
• Headphones: they may not seem like a necessity, but if you live in a noisy area or have neighbours with variable schedules, headphones can help you focus;
• Cable Organisers: you can rid your workspace of clutter with cable organisers that can help keep cables on and behind your desk tidy. Cables are conspicuous and can get in the way of your work, but with these inexpensive organisers you can group them more conveniently;
• A humidifier or fan: this will not only increase air flow in the office, but it will also create white noise so you can focus.

Some items on this list are essential, while others can help you improve your physical and mental health. Remote workers don't have many of these items and rarely realise how much they can improve their quality of life by making a small investment in themselves. Buying a monitor with a swivel mount is a good idea, as this will allow you to adjust it if you change your position. Also, if you have a laptop and you don't have room for a monitor on your desk, use a laptop stand and an external keyboard. You can also make it easier for your team members to work by using remote working software. These tools can increase team visibility, improve remote communication, and keep your team members working together wherever they are.