7 ways to make the most of your home office setup
Many of us are no strangers to working from home in 2022. As the fifth wave of COVID-19 hits Hong Kong, here are some home office ideas. A good home office setup is paramount not only to your career but for your mental and physical health. What’s more, remote working is here to stay as one of the top employee benefits trends of 2021 and beyond. In this article, Pacific Prime Hong Kong will go over several tips to help you make the most of your home office setup.
1. Support your back
Let’s face it: most of us will be sitting for hours at a time, working. As you may know, this does a number on our back. To keep your spine healthy and to alleviate back pain (if any), invest in a foam cushion designed for lumbar support.
Not in possession of one at the moment? You can make do with a small pillow or cushion. Even a rolled up towel will do in a pinch. Remember to switch sitting positions every once in a while and to get up and walk around.
2. Raise your screen
Constantly bending down to read off your screen places pressure on your upper spine. However, not everyone has access to an adjustable standing desk. Your monitor or desktop computer should ideally be at eye-level. If it isn’t, prop it up with some books and magazines.
Raising your screen can be especially tricky if you use a laptop. You can get around this with a mouse and an external keyboard so you’re not trading neck strain for wrist irritation by typing on an elevated laptop keyboard. Pair these with a laptop stand and you’ll have a solid home office set up.
3. Good lighting
Set the right work atmosphere with good lighting. One advantage to working from home is that you may opt out of harsh fluorescent lights in the office.
Even if it’s just for an hour or two, boost your mood and energy level with natural sunlight. Set up your workstation next to the window. This will regulate your Circadian cycles and make you feel more alert.
4. Video call makeover
Remote working makes video conferencing all the more important. Make sure you have a working microphone and camera, as well as a place where you could hold video calls uninterrupted. A pair of headphones with an attached microphone or a noise-canceling pair are good investments, especially if you find yourself in a noisy environment.
5. Keep clean and organized
A cluttered workspace hurts your productivity and adds to your stress levels. Tidying up your workstation after each work day ensures that you can start fresh the next morning. This can be yet another ritual that mentally creates a boundary between your home and work spheres.
6. Separate your home office from your living space
Keep your personal life and work life separated by creating a designated workplace for your home office setup. Not only will it induce work-life balance, you can also get into the productive zone quicker.
7. Create your dream office
Sure, WFH may be an arrangement born out of necessity, but who says you can’t make the most out of it? You can personalize your home office setup according to your taste, personality, and interests, just like you would at the office. In fact, you’ll find that there is even more freedom in decorating, provided that you don’t have anything offensive in your video call background.
Destress with scented candles or essential oil diffusers of your choosing. Go for an energizing scent or a relaxing one without a worry of disrupting any fragrance sensitive colleagues. Plants are also fantastic for lowering your stress levels while helping you feel more productive.
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Pacific Prime Hong Kong has over 20 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry. We offer a wide range of best-valued plans from family insurance and international health insurance to corporate insurance. For impartial advice, reach out to our team of insurance advisors today! Or get a free quote now with our online quotation tool.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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