In these days of hybrid working between a central place of employment and where you live, you need real home office hacks to beat the commute. Home working has to be effective, and productive for all concerned.
However, there are mixed feelings on both sides. Employees don’t want to miss out on the collaborative culture an office can deliver. Employers don’t want to see team building or productivity falter.
Here are some tried and tested techniques collected from a wide range of home office experiences.
Home Office Hacks; Phone Distraction
Staying focused on the task in hand can be difficult sometimes when there’s a phone to scroll on. Social media, messaging, notifications and other apps can intrude and break concentration.
Turn off notifications or put the phone on ‘do not disturb’ or even ‘airport’ settings. Some phones have a facility where you can set times for it to be silent while you work.
Wrap an elastic band around the phone to create a physical barrier between your scrolling thumb and the screen. It may help to stop any casual opening of the phone.
Noise Distraction
For some, a separate room as a home office is just simply not possible. If you have to share a space, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help.
Home Office Hacks; Light it Up
Natural lighting has a terrific record as a mood improver and productivity enhancer. Set up your office space so you can see directly through a window. Orienting your workspace this way will prevent reflections on your screen and add interest to your view.
Use lamps, and other secondary lighting to better see your keyboard as the evenings draw in over Winter.
Staying Connected
Seeing neighbourhood activity and traffic, or when the post arrives, can all add to a sense of connection. Alternatively, a back garden view can still deliver a sense of the day passing.
Plan an informal video chat with a friend or work colleague in the middle of the afternoon to catch up over a cup of tea.
Home Office Hacks; Getting Comfortable
Ergonomics, the science of inhabiting space, is all about being comfortable and supported in your activity. If you have to sit for a long time, a good-quality chair is essential, and making sure your monitor screen is at the right height is part of the equation.
Get up, stretch, and walk around every half-hour or so to combat stiffness or muscle fatigue.
Eye Levels
When you open a document on your computer, the top of it should be at eye level to prevent forward lean. If the monitor isn’t adjustable, raise it on a book or two to achieve the right height.
Having the top of the screen just a couple of inches above eye level will help save you from an aching back, and sometimes eyestrain too.
Home Office Hacks; Keep it Neat
Be ruthless and declutter your home office space. By staying organised, with just the essentials at hand, working at home will be less stressful.