Tips on setting up a healthy and productive home office

It is easy to work too much when at home because you never ‘leave the office’. Having a dedicated workspace that is used only for work time will help to commit to working when you enter and then shutting down at the end of the day. Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted by the rest of the family, or distracted, and then add a few of these tips to stay healthy and be productive while you work.

Here are a few tips for creating a healthy and productive workspace when working remotely from home.

Adjust for comfort and posture when working at your desk 

Make sure you are in a comfortable position when working. Choose a comfortable chair that puts you in an ergonomic position when working at your computer. If you can vary your sit-to-stand position with an adjustable desk, that is ideal. If not, make sure you get up to move often. Some ergonomic tips found here - envirotechoffice.com/ergonomics

Proper lighting can brighten your mood and protect your eyesight.

Make sure your workspace has proper lighting. An overhead light behind your head can cast shadows on a task area. Add a desk light if necessary. A window is always nice to offer natural light and the chance to look outside throughout the day. However, too much sunlight can create glare on a computer screen which can cause eye strain. Tinted window film lets you still see outside while reducing the amount of glare. WELL Building Standard certification endorses proper lighting as a strategy to promote wellness in the workplace.

Keep your space clutter-free so that you can focus on the task at hand

Research shows that we lose precious time when looking for unorganized documents, which may include papers lost in a stack on your bookshelf or digital files left in unknown locations on your computer. Research also shows that looking at clutter may be overwhelming and cause procrastination. To help battle clutter, designate a space for your work-related paper files, then take a few minutes at the end of each day to organize and file your documents. For your digital files, create a system that includes where it will be stored and, more importantly, a naming strategy, because if you forget where you saved it, you can search on its name. hbr.org/2019/the-case-for-cleaning-your-desk

Buy plants for the office! They are beautiful to look at and offer health benefits.

A little greenery and flowers can add visual appeal to your workspace. In addition to the design benefits of plants, emerging evidence shows there are health benefits as well. Having plants in your work area has been shown to reduce stress, improve moods, increase the ability to focus attention, and improve the ability to perform tasks. Consider the lighting and temperature of the room to ensure you choose the right plants for your space. www.workdesign.com/benefits-plants-workplace

A pleasant aroma can promote a positive work environment.

Odours influence our moods and moods influence how we think and act. When people are in a positive attitude, they often show increased creativity and problem-solving capabilities. Unfortunately, when working in a shared office environment, there is a no-scent policy because people have different preferences. One of the benefits of working from home is you have the opportunity to add to your work area a scent of your choice. scientificamerican.com/do-scents-affect-peoples