It’s clear that some people are desperate to get back into the office. It is, however, also clear that a lot of people are very happy to stick with remote/hybrid working. On the one hand, this could do wonders for the UK’s work/life balance. On the other hand, if remote/hybrid working is to be part of the new normal, it needs to be taken very seriously. Here are some tips to help.
Get your workplace properly set up
At the start of the pandemic, anything related to home-working pretty much flew off the shelves. Even now, popular home-office supplies can be out of stock or in limited supply. Going forward, however, this should hopefully become less of an issue. What’s more, there are often ways you can work around challenges until you can implement a long-term solution.
For example, if you can’t get a proper office chair, at least not within your taste and budget, you can buy lumbar supports and cushions to improve the chair you have. If you don’t have space (or budget) for a proper monitor, then make sure your laptop is at the right height. Consider investing in a proper laptop stand rather than using books or a shoebox.
Raising your laptop may result in the keyboard and trackpad becoming hard to reach. The solution to this is to invest in a separate keyboard and mouse. Opt for wireless accessories if you want to avoid cable clutter.
Get some plants
One of the major benefits of working from home is that you can set up your office how you like it. Plants don’t just look good, they clean the air and bring a bit of nature indoors. What’s more, if you like, you can have flowering plants. These are generally frowned up, if not banned, in offices due to the pollen.
Get moving
If you’re travelling to work you’re going to have to do some walking. If you’re working from home, you could, in principle, spend the entire day working from your bed. Of course, just because you could, it doesn’t mean that you should. In fact, you should aim to build movement into your everyday routine.
For example, you probably have at least an idea of how much walking you did on an average work-day. If you really can’t remember, look up your route and figure it out as best as you can. Then try to incorporate at least as much walking into your work-from-home days. If you can, add more. For example, use your lunch break to go for a walk.
Consider investing in a “standing-desk” add-on to your regular desk. If you don’t have a regular desk, they can work perfectly well on tables. Regardless of whether you sit or stand, get up and move whenever you can. For example, if you can take a call without video, stand up and walk about while you’re talking.
Get exercising
Walking is good, but you really need to incorporate some more vigorous exercise into your week, if not your day. Gyms and sports clubs are (on the point of) reopening so now could be time to renew/take up membership. Alternatively, now could be time to set up some proper home-exercise facilities.
For many people, home-workout space is going to need to be fitted in alongside home-working space. This is why it’s a good idea to think about them at the same time. For example, if you’re in a small room/studio, it might be worth sacrificing a proper desk for a folding table. This could be tucked away out of use so you can exercise.
You don’t need equipment to exercise at home. It can, however, be a good idea to think about soundproofing. A yoga mat or rubber mat can help to absorb any noise you make.
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