Working from home has become the norm since the start of the pandemic. Around 59 percent of US workers say their job can mostly be done from home, which is a lot higher than before the pandemic. Whereas at the beginning of 2020, working from home was seen as a necessity, it’s now viewed as desirable. People love being at home because it means they have more time with family and less dead time commuting. But unless you have a comfortable work setup, your experience may not be quite so positive.

Create a Dedicated Workspace

Working from the kitchen or dining room table is not ideal. Not only will you need to clear everything away each time someone else wants the space but there will be a lot of distractions, such as the cookie jar and fridge. Not everyone has a spare room they can turn into an office, but where possible, set up your home working area in a quiet space, such as a nook under the stairs, or better still, a room you don’t use very often. If there is nowhere indoors, consider converting an underutilized garage into a home office, or investing in a timber building you can turn into a home office. Improvements like this can add value to the property when the time comes to sell. So, it’s money worth spending.

Invest in the Right Furniture

Remember that dining room table we mentioned? Well, it’s not suitable for home working unless you need a lot of space and prefer TV dinners. Buy a suitable desk with enough room for multiple monitors, files, etc. Even better, buy an ergonomic desk or a height-adjustable one. Don’t make the mistake of using an old kitchen chair. This won’t do your back any good at all. Buy a good quality, ergonomic desk chair so you can sit all day and not end up crippled. Do you spend a lot of time reading documents? If so, a more comfortable chair might be the answer, something like the ultimate sack bean bag chair from Comfy Sacks that supports your whole body. Working from home should be about comfort as much as productivity.

Maintain a Comfortable Temperature

It’s hard to be productive when you are too cold or too hot. Think about how you can maintain the right temperature in your work environment. Would a Smart heating controller be a worthwhile investment? These are handy because they learn your preferred temperature and make adjustments without you jumping up every five minutes to turn the thermostat up or down. If you don’t want to massively increase your heating costs, buy a heated blanket for your legs and some extra snug slippers. These are very inexpensive to buy but great if you hate having cold legs and feet while you work. Finally, don’t neglect to light. One central pendant light in a home office won’t be enough. You will need task lighting, such as a desk lamp, to prevent eye strain.