As the working from home culture continues to grow into our foreseeable future, society as a whole is working toward establishing new norms of office 'normalcy'. As our dedicated workspaces have moved to our kitchen tables and become our bedroom or living room offices, how do we ensure we are consistently able to perform to our previous standard? To ensure we maintain a positive working groove, having the right home desk setup set up is key.
Let it Shine!
Whether you are working the early, mid, or overnight shift, finding the right source of lighting is conducive to your success. If your home allows for it, try to position your working station in the brightest room in your house. Natural light on its own is proven time and time again to be one of the best sources of natural energy. Natural light will not only increase your productivity, it help will help to boost your mood and focus as well. Alternatively for those who don't have access to big bright windows in the home, consider a desk lamp that provides a variety of options such as color temperatures, brightness levels, and adjustable arms. These variable light sources will cater to a wide range of actives.
Go Green!
With the obvious aside, yes plants look nice, there are many benefits to having plants throughout your home and especially at your desk. As many of us spend the majority of our time indoors during working hours, being constantly surrounded by poor air quality can be detrimental to our health and production levels. Adding plants into your home and at your desk helps to improve the quality of the air we breathe by removing toxins from the air and distributing clean oxygen in its place. There have been scientific studies shown that the effects of plants are proven to boost productivity, reduce blood pressure, reduce stress, and increase our mood levels. Whether you are an avid gardener or a notorious cactus killer, choose the right plant for you.
Sit Tight
As many of us spend so much time in a seated position, we often find ourselves with chronic neck and back pain by the end of the day. To ensure you are continuing to get through that pesky to-do list in your day, finding the right chair for you is crucial in avoiding unnecessary interruptions. Finding a chair that is comfortable on your back helps to decrease muscle strain and helps to improve posture. Ideally, seek out an ergonomic chair and asses against the following features:
The ideal chair height allows for your thighs to be parallel to the ground when sitting, and your knees are at a 90-degree angle.
Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle with your keyboard to ensure you can type efficiently without reaching or bending your wrists or arms.
The top of your monitor should align with your eyes when you are sitting straight.
Place your monitor at a comfortable distance that does not require any tilting of the head or forward movement.
Stay Hydrated!
Studies have shown that a drastic 75% of all North Americans do not drink enough water. I don't know about you, but I am definitely guilty. Dehydration is a key stressor for feelings of lethargy and lack of energy. As many of us go straight to that 2nd or 8th cup of coffee for that afternoon pick-me-up, remember that caffeine is proven to dehydrate us even more. With so many tools available to help remind us to drink water throughout the day, play around, and see what works for you. Whether it's an app on your phone or purchasing a fancy time-marked water bottle, do what works best for you and use that fill-up as your excuse to move your legs.
Keep Moving!
Many of us have this mindset that if we sit for 8 hours straight we should be able to just power through and get what we need to do done. I don't know about you, but sitting in the same position for hours on end makes me crazy, not to mention uncomfortable. To avoid hitting that productivity wall, get up, and stretch your legs for 15 minutes for every hour you are seated working. Taking that quick break allows for an increase in blood flow and helps to re-energize the mind. There are many different ways to ensure we are moving throughout the day such as refilling that water bottle once an hour (see what I did there), moving your printer/filing cabinet to another room or setting an alarm to get outside for some fresh air.
Clean Up Your Mess!
This one I would like to think is pretty self-explanatory. How can anyone concentrate on anything with nothing but a mess in front of them? A disorganized desk can significantly decrease productivity levels and increase stress. Oftentimes chaos can cause mental distress and overload and can make poor productivity habits worsen over time. Create a system for yourself that designates homes for all of your necessary tools and remove all other unnecessary items completely off your working station or store things appropriately in desk drawers or hidden storage.
Make it Personal!
It's your house, your desk, your things, so why not make it more you! Using the advantage of working from home, take the opportunity to set your desk EXACTLY as you want it. Add those silly family photos you want no one to see, put up the tacky calendar you love, or treat yourself with a fresh bouquet of your favorite flowers. Whatever you choose, the world is your oyster! Having the ability to personalize your space helps to reduce stress and cope better with distractions. Personalization helps us feed our need for control and creates a positive relationship between work and our personal selves. This sense of control over our individuality within our workspace helps to increase motivation and our desire to achieve. Keeping the clutter in mind, personalize your space in moderation, while still allowing yourself to feel inspired.
To Summarize
In order to create that perfect desk set up and allow for you to achieve your maximum productivity level, you need to create a space that you ACTUALLY like to be in. Let your light shine, go green, sit tight, stay hydrated, clean up your mess, get moving, clean up your sh!t, and don't forget to make it YOU!
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