Setting Up Your Home Office : A Complete Guide

If you work at home it’s likely you have a home office, study, or at least somewhere to sit down and do your work from. But just because you’re in the comfort of your own home doesn’t mean you should ignore the importance of an ergonomic friendly workspace.

Choosing your space

When working from home it could be easy for you to just sit in your living room with your feet up on the couch with the TV on in the background. But this wouldn’t make for an effective working environment. Try to choose a space in your house that is relatively quiet, away from any outside noises and somewhere that isn’t frequently visited by family members. This will prevent you from being distracted.

It’s also important to choose a room that is light and airy, being in a dark and confined space can bring our mood down which will affect your ability to work productively. If you were to choose a dark space that relied on artificial light, and you were looking at a computer screen for the majority of the time, then this can increase the risk of migraines and eye strain.

Furniture

Often we buy furniture because of the way it looks, but when considering what chair to buy when setting up your home office, it is vital to pick a chair for comfort. If you find you’re getting bad back, neck or shoulder pain it is likely your chair isn’t made for your body, and this will increase the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and bad postures. Investing in an ergonomic chair will ensure that your home office environment is extra comfortable. As well as an ergonomic chair it could be worthwhile investing in an ergonomic desk too.

Storage

You know what they say, ‘tidy house, tidy mind’. When setting up your office it is important to purchase some storage solutions that will help keep the room

nice and tidy, but most importantly, organised! When working in an unorganised environment it can increase our stress levels which will lead to a dip in productivity.

Regular breaks  

When you’re working from home it may feel like you are not able to take a break, because you’re already in a comforting space. However, it is still important to take regular breaks away from your computer screen, so you can stretch your legs and rest your eyes.

DSE Assessments

If you find your home workstation setup is causing you pain or discomfort, then our DSE Assessments can help you identify any issues with current setups or identify specific products that may allow DSE related issues to be resolved.