Designing a Healthy Home Office for Maximum Productivity

According to an analysis by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in three Australian workers regularly work from home. The number has risen dramatically from 20% to 30% in the last 15 years. It would be fair to say that in the last 2 months this number has jumped dramatically. Moreover, 1.3 million Australians reveal that they chose to work from home either to spend more time with family, to take advantage of flexible workplace arrangements, or to focus on childcare. In any case, work-life balance is usually the main reason for the increase in remote work setups. 

The benefits are rewarding indeed, but as remote employees spend more time in their home offices, they start to feel and see an imbalance in the form and function of their makeshift workspaces. The challenge lies in balancing function, comfort, and aesthetics, making the problem quite hard to solve. Experts, however, urge remote employees to listen to their bodies. Oftentimes, people are able to determine their needs based on areas of body pain. Medical experts also reveal that musculoskeletal disorders are often work-related, usually caused by staying in an uncomfortable position for hours at a time. This leads to restricted work time, as health is compromised. With this in mind, it is important to develop a working space that is healthy, comfortable, and productivity-inducing. Here are three key tips to designing your home office:

1. Bask in light—the right way

The average worker is estimated to spend seven hours a day in front of a computer screen. Although productivity is often linked to brighter workspaces, the glare produced by the computer monitor causes harm. Notice how you squint a lot after three hours of working?

This is intensified if you work directly in the light. Without knowing it, you strain your eyes even more by situating yourself directly by the window. Experts advise workers to direct light away from their line of sight, usually by utilising light from the side windows instead. If you work at night, use supplemental light from a desk lamp.

2. Find the perfect chair and desk

Not everyone will have the budget to renovate their entire home office—and that’s fine. You absolutely do NOT have to mimic those makeover shows you see on TV. Instead, you can start by buying the perfect chair. For this, professional interior designers discourage people from buying anything right off the shelf, as well as buying chairs online without trying to sit on it first. It’s best to visit your local store for such an important piece of your home office. When looking for the chair, ensure that each component is adjustable. You will also want to make sure that there is enough lumbar support, comfortable armrests, and an adjustable seat height. Even then, ensure that your purchased chair comes with a warranty, one that will enable you to return or exchange the chair should you start feeling any aches and pains.

When you’ve found your chair, your next option should be to find a suitable desk. Unfortunately, most desks in the market are already fixed in height. Such desks lead to back pain, even with a good chair. Most people find switching to an adjustable desk makes all the difference, so plenty of workers are investing in one for their home offices. Also, you might want to consider purchasing a standing desk, as it’s currently all the rage here in Australia.

3. Invest in work accessories 

With a good chair and an adjustable desk in hand, you’re all set! But don’t think the process of revamping your home office is over. As you slowly transform your home office into one that supports maximum productivity, why not check out the following accessories:

• Adjustable stand for raising your laptop screen up (check out Nextstand!)
• External keyboard and mouse (these are essentials for ergonomics)
• Stool to perch on (to reach those documents placed on high shelves)
• A padded wrist rest (to keep Carpal Tunnel Syndrome away)
• Anti-fatigue mat (for standing as you use your standing desk!) 

Conclusion

Working from home or remotely is a trend that many experts believe will continue to rise. The lack of available space and rising rent costs are only some of the reasons why the trend is booming. On the other hand, most workers just want to achieve the magical prospect of a work-life balance. But for this, productivity shouldn’t never be sacrificed.

This is exactly what we believe in. We believe in building a healthier and stronger workforce, which is why we came up with our very own standing desk. They’re innovatively designed, fully automated, and equipped with smart features. We’ve made it perfect for everyone—you can even adjust it according to your needs! 

If you’re ready for a healthier, happier, and more productive work life, get in touch with us now and order an adjustable stand-up desk.