Where do you do your best work?
At home?
At the office?
At a nearby coffee shop?
Or a co-working space in your neighbourhood?
Do you work best in a quiet environment like I do?
Or you relish rowdiness.
I worked remotely from 2019 through early 2021.
When Covid-19 hit and the resulting quarantine moved most work online, I lost the option of switching environments.
Therefore, I made do with what I had; a couch and a stool.
But it wasn’t easy!
According to Forbes, I was amongst the 72% of remote workers grinding from their couches, dining tables and worse, their beds.
Although getting up, powering up your laptop and starting your workday from bed sounds cool, it comes at a cost.
Your mental alertness and agility diminish faster, studies show.
Your posture takes a hit too.
Working this way also reduces your sleep quality, degrades your hygiene and blurs the line between your life and work.
Avoid needless risks.
Set up a simple workspace instead.
I did! And it paid off.
Here’s how I did it.
✅ Go minimal
Your workspace is not your closet or an art gallery.
Don’t clutter it!
You’re more likely to concentrate and finish tasks when your visual distractions are fewer.
Clutter and disorder make it difficult to find needed objects.
You burn precious time looking for a pin, tape and pencil.
Cut the excess.
Keep your workstation neat and simple so you can focus on your most important tasks.
✅ Get enough lighting
Poor lighting is a killjoy.
It can earn you headaches, eyestrain, fatigue and other health issues.
When setting up your workspace, think of natural lighting first.
If that’s not available or adequate, augment with a ring light. (Follow my cue from the picture.)
A well-lit workplace with task lighting is essential to your productivity.
✅ Get a comfortable chair
Don’t go cheap on this one.
Great ergonomics will keep your body comfortable and your mind focused.
This way, you can work longer and your lower back will thank you.
✅ Go green
Natural or artificial, green plants around your workspace can improve your natural feel and comfort.
Although you’re there for business, make it feel like home.
Hang your photographs, plants, or a preferred color scheme too.
It’s your space!
✅ Get the right gadgets.
What’s a workstation without work tools?
A durable computer, internet connection and headphones are great for starters.
Also, keep everything you need for a work session handy.
Looking for stuff mid-work distracts.
In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear notes that your “Environment is the invisible hand that shapes your behaviour.”
If you prime your environment for productivity, you’ll most likely act in character.
You can’t go wrong with a minimalist workstation with adequate lighting & tools, comfortable ergonomics and some greens.
If you found these helpful, there’s more where it came from.
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