As many offices have been closed for several months – and some expected to remain that way for the next several months – many workers have had to scramble to set up home offices. For many in Boston, where space is at a premium, that wasn’t part of the plan when they were searching for their homes. Here are a few useful tips we have seen/heard/implemented:
1. Find the Best Spot in Your Home
If you live in a “cozy” apartment, this can be a challenge. Sitting on your bed or on your couch is not ideal if you’re going to be working for an extended period. If you don’t have any room to spare, the dining table or breakfast bar may be best. Another good option can be a “corner desk”, which can work well in tight spaces.
2. Comfortable Seating
Unless you have a standing desk, we spend a lot of time sitting. Chairs in the office sometimes get a bad rap, but they tend to be relatively ergonomic. A good chair can be a solid investment.
3. Increase Internet Speed
Most of us weren’t planning to work from home full-time for an extended period. Especially if you share your home with others, there may not be enough bandwidth for everyone’s phones, tablets, laptops and TVs to all be running simultaneously – especially if people are streaming music or videos or videoconferencing.
4. Improve Lighting
Speaking of videoconferencing, lighting is an important consideration. Working in a dark corner might make the most sense space-wise, but if you’re going to be videoconferencing, then a small lamp should help ensure your colleagues and clients can see you. Unless you’re going for that doom-and-gloom vibe.
5. Set Up Your Workstation like Your Office
You’re at home… it doesn’t “feel” like the office. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it can impact your ability to get into the type of rhythm that you can have while at your office. Organizing your work area with all of your necessary supplies nearby – and eliminating distractions (give Netflix the pleasure of being right that you are NOT still watching) – can help.
BONUS TIP: FIND A NEW HOME WITH YOUR IDEAL HOME-OFFICE SET-UP
It is looking increasingly likely that working from home will be part of the “new normal” for some time. More and more companies seem to be looking for ways to let employees work remotely. If the past few months have been a struggle to find space in your home to squeeze in a workspace, or perhaps your roommates are on different schedules which is creating other challenges, then maybe it’s time to explore options.
Whether you want to search for a new home to rent or search for a home to purchase with room for an office, we can help! Feel free to dive right in and look around. But you can also contact us and one of our experienced agents can help serve as your guide.