What a year 2020 is turning out to be. With the dreaded coronavirus spreading its deadly tentacles around the world, more and more businesses are starting to implement contingency plans that involve remote and home-based working arrangements. A welcoming change for most of us – no more long commutes, flexibility, no dress code! However, for remote work to be successful, one has to maintain individual performance level to be as high as an average day in office. Thus, it is crucial that your temporary home office is configured to maximise your efficiency and productivity! Here’s how.

Choose the Right Spot

First things first, allocate a space for your home office. If possible, choose a room so as to have some sort of privacy as well as a boundary from distractions at home, such as your family members, pets, television as these can all hamper productivity. Do keep in mind the space you choose should be well lit. A report conducted by Centre for Performance at Work at City University London notes that lighting is one of the factors that elevate productivity.

Work in Comfort

Having an ergonomic chair and table will actually increase productivity. Select a chair that feels comfortable for you, as you will be using it for hours on end every day. Your butt deserves the best! Splurge a little, as a quality ergonomic chair will go a long way. Your back will also thank you in years to come. An interesting alternative is a standing desk. These desks have been growing in popularity in recent years, and the key to avoid standing fatigue is to alternate between standing and sitting throughout the day.

Declutter

Having a clean and tidy space around you can help one think clearly. Clutter is actually pretty distracting and will definitely have a negative effect on your productivity. Take some time to sort what you need to keep at home, and you can choose to either donate your extra stuff or store them with us here, at Extra Space Asia! You will be amazed at what you can actually live without and the amount of space you actually have at home! Besides, decluttering is also said to improve mental health! Now, that is a win-win in our book.

We’re praying hard that these challenging times will blow over soon, and we’ll be back in our offices reunited with our favourite colleagues! In the meantime, remember to practise good hygiene and stay safe out there!