9 Simple Steps to Set up Your Remote Office

Remote work, once frowned upon by employers in companies as a fad, will no longer exist. A 2016 Gallup study, "The State of the American Workplace," found that at least 43% of employees now work remotely for part of their time, and employers report a resulting increase in productivity. However, now that the workforce is increasingly moving to home offices, it is clear that not all remote environments are created equal.

One of the real benefits of remote working is the convenience of home and a flexible schedule, but the same comfortable environment can also be a distraction. Deliberately creating a space that promotes productivity need not be a chore, but it does require careful planning and deliberate design.

Here are nine things to consider in a home office so that you can make the most of your remote work opportunities with efficient, organized and comfortable furnishings:

Measure your space

Where you decide to set up the office in your house or apartment can be as important as the content. If possible, choose a room that is away from the main traffic flow and noise of the household, preferably with a door that can be closed.

You may want to separate your work computer from your laptop to enforce clear boundaries. If you are able to close the door of your office at the end of the day and leave, you can resist the temptation to squeeze extra work (and more stress) into your busy schedule.

If you only have a limited amount of square meters in your apartment or condo, you should be creative with the space you have and invest in equipment that is multitasking. Build up instead of expand, use walls instead of desk space for pictures or bookshelves that also serve as storage space.

Look at the view

It is important that you place your desk in a place with natural lighting, but the view from your chair is also important. What will be directly in your field of vision while working? A 2018 survey found that 62% of U.S. workers believe that clutter negatively affects their productivity, so eliminating visual distractions should be a priority. When you spend most of your day at your desk, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by a chaotic work environment.

Desk space is a prime piece of real estate that should not be wasted. Instead, use storage methods to keep it clean for your office supplies. Most modern offices are packed with technology, which means you're dealing with a rat's nest of wires. Get a power strip and some ties to tame this tangle of cables and keep them out of sight.

Let the light in

It is tempting to save space by putting a large desk in a corner, but that means you are cut off from the windows. Research shows that natural light at your workplace promotes your physical well-being and can even improve your sleep time. So pull this desk into the light, perhaps parallel to the windows, to maintain some privacy.

The benefits of good lighting do not have to end when the sun goes down. Invest in high-quality artificial light, fed by full spectrum lamps that imitate daylight. Even if the seasons bring darkness to your working day, you will enjoy the benefits of the cheerful mood that sunlight promotes.

Take a seat while standing

Let us talk briefly about ergonomics. Whether you are sitting on a conventional swivel chair or sitting at a standing desk, you will want furniture that adopts a good posture to avoid back and neck strain.

Position your monitor or laptop slightly below eye level to relax your eyelids and reduce fatigue. The height of your keyboard should be such that your forearms are parallel to the floor, so choose an adjustable chair that can adjust to your needs.

In response to several studies citing the risks of a sedentary lifestyle, more office workers have chosen high desks. There are a few low-cost versions available, but be sure to choose a desk with adjustment options so that you do not lose the benefits of standing by the constant strain of misalignment.

Read More... Pros and Cons of Remote Work

Establish connection

When setting up your home office, it is easy to overlook one of the most important aspects of efficiency - a powerful Internet connection. The speed you need is a factor in the nature of your work. Most remote workflows consist of Internet research, e-mail and occasional video streaming.

For those who frequently download large files, you may need to choose a more robust 50 Mbps speed. Even if you live in rural areas of the United States, you can still find satellite Internet at 12 to 100 Mbps.

But keeping connected does not stop there. You need a network router that is designed to manage multiple devices and has enough range to reach your home office with ease.

Setting up your workstation

Take a seat and stretch out your arms. Can you achieve everything you need for most daily tasks? Think of your office as a work triangle where your most important things should stay close to your computer.

Reduce the number of devices competing for space by choosing multitasking devices such as printers that also scan or slim docking devices. When designing or programming, clear your desk of the multiple monitors you need to work efficiently and store your staples somewhere else.

Aside from a comfortable chair, two things in your home office deserve pomp and circumstance: get a quality mouse and keyboard to die for. They are the workhorses of your home office and are worth the extra cost.

Preparing for meetings

Most work at remote locations involves at least a few virtual meetings. This situation is especially true if you are looking for a new job via a Skype interview or if you work as a freelancer meeting with clients. With a reliable webcam and a quality microphone and a small set of speakers you can collect a lot of kilometers.

It doesn't have to be expensive to get the right tools for your job either. Most laptops are now equipped with webcams as standard, and you should always check with your employer to see if the cost of additional equipment can be reimbursed.

Find your comfort zone

So far we have focused on functionality, but let's not forget one of the advantages of remote working. Your home office should convey a sense of comfort, either with casual seating, comfortable throws or small amenities like a hot pot in standby. You will spend most of your day in this workspace, so think about making it a place where you want to relax.

Whether you surround yourself with your favorite books or enchanting polka dot teacups, you do.

Back up and store your data

These bulky filing cabinets are likely to be cluttered, but your remote office needs a solution for storing important documents. Choose a fireproof cabinet that's tough enough to survive any disaster, but small enough to be portable when it comes to important documents and records.

Most of the data you need to back up is virtual. So consider external hard drives or cloud storage to back up important files. And don't forget security measures such as surge protectors to protect against destructive power surges that can have a devastating effect on electronics.

Once you set up your remote office, don't forget to leave it sometimes. As with any work routine, the same daily environment can cause creativity to stagnate.