Meghan Ryan
October 02, 2020
Working from home gives you a lot of advantages: You can enjoy more flexible working hours, spend more time with your pets, and you can save time and money by removing the daily commute. Best of all, you’re able to carve out a working space that’s exactly what you need. Read on for our tips on creating a perfect home office setup.
1. Designate space for your home office
Your home office should be a space where you can concentrate. The best home office setups are in quiet spaces that allow for some privacy from roommates or family. If you have a spare bedroom or a space with a door, that’s a great place to set up your desk.
2. Consider how you’ll look on camera
Chances are that you’ll be attending video conferences while you’re working at home, so you should make sure you look your best on camera. That includes your background, too – you wouldn’t want anyone distracted by the clutter behind you while you’re speaking or presenting online. If possible, set your desk up in front of a window, so that your face is lit up with natural light, and make sure there are limited distractions behind you.
You can use Prezi Video as a visual aid in any video conference to make yourself stand out and look even more professional on camera. Prezi Video puts your content right alongside you on screen, which has the power to impress and engage your audience more effectively than appearing on camera without it or sharing your screen.
Learn how to look and sound good on camera with our tips on making a professional home studio setup.
3. Figure out the equipment you need
A designer working from home is going to have a different setup than an engineer. Where one person may need a lot of open desk space to sketch and visualize ideas on paper, the other person may need an ergonomic keyboard and dual monitor set up to be productive.
The point is, you should set up your home office with everything you personally need to comfortably and efficiently get your work done. Don’t just claim a desk in the corner of your home as “good enough.” Take a few minutes to think about what would work best for you and make your home office setup based on those needs.
Here’s a list of a few things that most people need for their office, but you can always add or subtract any items based on your own job:
- Sit/stand desk – It’s obviously not necessary to get the “stand” option if you don’t have space or the funds, but standing every once in a while is a great way to get the blood flowing while you’re at work.
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- Wireless mouse
- Comfy desk chair
- Lighting – You should have enough light to illuminate your face on camera.
- Storage or filing cabinets – Clutter is distracting, even if it’s your office supplies or papers. Make sure everything has its place in your office.
4. Limit distractions
It might be very tempting to keep your phone right next to you while you’re working, but do your best to keep your space distraction-free. Your smartphone is one of the most distracting things you own, so if you can silent it or turn off notifications for a while, you’ll be able to better concentrate.
It’s good practice to keep your space organized as well. Put things away at the end of the day, so that the next morning you can start with a clean desk.
5. Keep your work and home life separate
It may be tempting to do a load of laundry or stream an episode of a show while you’re working at home, but it’s not a good idea. The lines between work life and personal life often blur for people who are working at home, and that can take a toll on their mental health. They can work longer hours, and feel more stress, burnout, and anxiety.
Do yourself a favor – when you walk into your home office, make sure it’s time for work. Take care of meals, errands, and playtime with your kids at designated breaks throughout your day.
Working from home is a lifestyle change, and the proper home office setup can bring you a lot more happiness, ease, and efficiency to your workday. Learn how Prezi Video fits into your work from home role, or get started by creating your first video presentation today.
