04.02.2021

New Year, New Home Office

At the beginning of 2020, few would have predicted that millions of employees across the UK would be starting 2021 working from home. While it may feel more difficult to get motivated this new year, global workplace experts Steelcase recommend setting up your home office properly as a great way to refresh your mindset. Workspaces play a huge role in employee wellbeing – both physical and mental – so making sure you have the support you need is essential.

Whatever your 2021 new year’s resolutions are, Steelcase has 6 top tips for creating a home office environment that will help you achieve them:

1. Pick the best place to work – Your workspace will be where you spend the majority of each day, so thoughtfully choosing where to set it up is important. Think about where you will be able to avoid background noise, especially if there are other people at home during the day. This will also help determine the level of privacy you need for your work – can you sit at the same table as others, or do you need to be in a separate room? Ideally, pick somewhere with natural light, as this can improve your wellbeing and help you stay focused.

2. Soften your surroundings – This may factor into your decision about where is best to work. When we work remotely, video and voice calls are how we connect with each other, but sometimes these connections are impaired by background noise. Hard surfaces can amplify these sounds and cause echoes, so rooms with soft surfaces – like sofas, carpets, and curtains – will allow for better quality calls. If you don’t have a choice of rooms, smaller fixes like rugs or blankets can help to soften your surroundings.

3. Find a seat that suits you – Your seat is perhaps the most important part of your home office and it is essential that it offers proper ergonomic support, without which your physical wellbeing could suffer. If buying a designated office chair is an option, think about what support you need most. The backrest of the chair should fit the natural contour of your back to maintain healthy alignment as you sit, and the choice of adjustable armrests and seat positions will make a chair feel like it is made for you and your body.

If a new chair isn’t an option, maximise your comfort and support in existing furniture. Add a few cushions to boost yourself to the right height. Put a rolled-up towel, jumper, or small pillow behind your lower back to provide lumbar support. Don’t be afraid to experiment – listen to your body, figure out what works best for you, and stick to it. You can find more advice here.

4. Think about positioning – To avoid eye and neck strain, your main screen should be at eye level while you’re working. You may need to use a laptop stand or monitor arm, which can provide added flexibility, but a couple of thick books or a box can also work well. An external keyboard and mouse are essential for maintaining good posture, to prevent you from hunching or stretching uncomfortably. Your worksurface should be at around elbow height when sitting – if this isn’t the case, you can try out different chairs and cushion combinations to try and get it right. If you can, clear enough space for your knees under your desk so you can slide your chair close to your work.

5. Make room for movement – While we are working from home, we tend to sit more and move less, which is damaging to our physical health. Try to set up your home office to encourage regular intervals of standing up, moving around, and adopting different postures. If it’s an option, consider an adjustable desk that allows you to choose between sitting or standing as you work. An alarm clock or wall calendar with movement goals can remind you to get up from your desk and get the blood pumping.

6. Plan what’s in your eyeline – Now you have all the bigger elements of your home office sorted, think smaller. When you sit down to work, what are you going to be able to see? Remove visual distractions – like the washing pile or dirty plates – to create boundaries between work and home, which are equally important in “off” time. Try to include some greenery in your surroundings, whether this is through a window or by bringing a potted plant to your desk. Remember, too, that experiencing joy makes you more productive, so surround yourself with things that make you smile. This could be as simple as a bright coloured coffee cup or inspiring pictures on your desk.

The novelty of working from home may have worn off, but setting up your home office for the new year will help you feel revitalised and ready to face the challenges of 2021.

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