Working from home is going to become a permanent part of many professional lives, regardless of when this pandemic ends.
Some companies are already scaling back on commercial rents and telling employees they’ll not be returning to their offices and cubicles.
Many Americans are now expected to use their home as their office whether they like it or not, and embrace technologies such as video conferencing.
The rush-hour that would book-end our working days won’t be missed, but careful thought needs to be given to what all this means for our home life.
To successfully transition to this work-from-home phenomenon, you need to identify space in your home that’s far from the hustle and bustle of family life and can still be used as a workspace.
Also, you want to be able to shut your door on work at the end of the day. If you’re working at the kitchen or dining room table, it will be a continual presence in your family life – and that’s not healthy.
As your local real estate agent, I can tell you many prospective buyers are asking about workspaces in homes that are on the market. This hasn’t become as important as a good bathroom, kitchen or whether a home has three or four bedrooms, but it’s rising on most priority lists.
If you’re thinking of cashing in on the current strength of the American property market, then creating a home-office will give you a distinct advantage over similar properties that are for sale in your area.
Here are some tips on how to set up a great workspace.
Don’t lose a bedroom – Buyers aren’t mad and still value a home mainly for its position and the number of bedrooms, unless you have too many to count. If you’re in a four bedroom home and considering making it a three plus an office, that’s okay when you live there, but if you’re getting ready to sell, consider reconverting it back to a bedroom.
Find privacy or a quiet corner – You don’t need an entire room, or a city skyline view, to create a home-office. But it’s best to choose a space away from the busiest areas of your home. Consider a screen for some privacy.
Crank the Wi-Fi – You’ll need good internet access to cope with the demands of work. If you can’t run a CAT5 or CAT6 cable to your desk, consider using Wi-Fi extenders to deliver the data speeds you need.
Invest in a good desk and chair – Don’t short change yourself as your posture and wellbeing is at stake. If your workplace is offering an ergonomic audit of your set-up, invite them in. Some employers will pay for what you need. Remember, you’ll likely be spending more than 30 hours a week at your desk.
Light bulb moment – Lighting is crucial to productivity. Avoid natural light that throws glare on to your computer screen. Use window blinds to combat this challenge and add soft desk lighting.
Storage solutions – It essential that you can keep your work papers safe from children and maybe your own desktop chaos. If you don’t keep everything reasonably neat, you’ll soon grow tired of your new home-office.
Order office supplies – Don’t trash your concentration and productivity by making endless trips to the store for pens, paper and printer ink. Stock up and avoid this distraction and keep them in a basket or drawer ready for use.
Consider a second phone – If you’re finding it difficult to achieve a work and life balance, get a second phone – one for your private life and the other for work. Then you can put your work phone on mute when its family time.