Remote work started as a trend a few years ago before becoming a necessity. As more and more people work from their homes, we want to provide a well-thought-out guide to help you set up your home office.

This guide is intended to help you create a high-quality work environment in your home.

Plan Your Workspace:

Where will you set up your office?

To decide where to set up your office, it’s helpful to ask yourself some questions:

1. What do you need for a home office? Do you primarily work on your computer, or do you need additional space for working with printed documents?
2. Do you expect to have regular video conferences with your coworkers? What background do you want to have during video calls?
3. Do you live alone or with others? Do you need a quiet and isolated place to work without distractions or interruptions?

Once you’ve selected the best room in your home to set up your workspace, start listing everything you need to turn that room into a productive home office. Create a list of office items and keep only those that are essential to keep you productive while working remotely.

How to Set Up Your Home Office:

It’s time to put your plan into action. Start with the big items like the desk, chair, computer, and monitor. Then progressively optimize your space with all the little extras that will make your life easier and more enjoyable.

13 essential items for working from home:

(Note that for remote work, you probably need a computer, a wireless router, and a modem; for this article, we focus on all the other things you may need)

1. Desk: For a home office desk, look for something simple and minimalist with ample space to accommodate your computer or laptop and monitor. Consider getting a standing desk that can be easily adjusted with an electric system. Using a standing desk can have significant health benefits and can increase productivity.
2. Office Chair: Choosing an office chair is as important as choosing a mattress. It should be comfortable since you’ll probably spend eight hours on it every day. It’s worth investing in a quality ergonomically designed office chair to protect your back and prevent long-term injuries.
3. Keyboard: A comfortable keyboard is absolutely essential for remote work productivity. If you’re using a Mac, the Apple Magic Keyboard with a numeric keypad is an excellent wireless option. It comes in Space Gray or Silver to match the color of your laptop. A good option for PCs is the Logitech G513 keyboard. It’s comfortable to use and has great key quality and overall design (it has customizable Lightsync RGB lighting!)..
4. Lighting: Once you’ve chosen your desk and chair, you might consider getting a lamp. A lamp can be helpful if you often work until late at night or need extra light on a gloomy day.
5. Mouse: If you use a laptop, a dedicated mouse will help improve your accuracy and speed when working from home.
6. Monitor: Monitors can be very useful for those who work with multiple open windows simultaneously.
7. Noise-canceling Headphones and Microphone: If you anticipate having regular video calls with your colleagues while working from home, it’s essential to have a pair of headphones with a decent microphone. It will help you hear everyone on the call better and ensure that everyone hears you loud and clear when you express your thoughts.
8. Bluetooth Speaker: Sometimes, remote workers prefer to have everything they’re listening to come from a source a bit further from their eardrums. Consider getting a Bluetooth speaker instead of using headphones. (This essential item also goes very well with number 13!)
9. Blue Light Filtering Glasses: Since you’ll inevitably be in front of the computer most of the day, we recommend investing in a pair of glasses that filter blue light. These will help protect your eyes from digital eye strain caused by overexposure to blue light. Learn more about the importance of blue light-blocking glasses here.
10. Computer Stand: A computer stand is the kind of small item that will make a big difference throughout your day. It’s affordable, discreet, and will make working more comfortable. Place your laptop on it and don’t cover the fan. That will improve airflow and prevent your computer from overheating. Its most significant benefit, however, is better posture and increased comfort.
11. Printer and Scanner:This may not be important for some, but it’s essential for others. Having a reliable printer and scanner in your home office can save you many trips to a print shop.
12. File Cabinet: Working from home doesn’t necessarily mean you’re completely digital. If you need to keep important documents in your office, it’s worth investing in a simple and functional file cabinet.
13. Music Subscription: Feed Your Creativity Last but not least, you can invest in a music subscription service. Make sure to play inspiring music to stay focused and motivated while working from home. Do you have a Spotify account? Check out our ATHENAWORKS Playlists for every mood you may be in.

EXTRAS:

• A coffee machine or kettle can always be useful for an extra energy boost!
• A large water bottle is essential to keep yourself hydrated.

Some Final Tips:

Make sure to set clear boundaries for when you start and stop working. Change into work clothes in the morning to feel ready to work, make sure the TV is off to avoid distractions, and when you finish the day, shut down your computer if possible (or close everything related to your work). You can even disable notifications after 5 pm on work-related apps like Slack.

Sitting all day is not good for your health. Stand up and walk more. Set a timer every 30 minutes to do some stretches or take a walk.

We have many other blogs on our site that talk about the balance between remote work and life. Read them to get a better understanding of what to do and not to do when working from home.

Now, all that’s left is to design and get to work, good luck!