Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the number of people working from home has increased drastically around the world. During April 2020, around 46.6% of all people in the UK did some work from home. Now, according to Forbes, around 70% of the workforce could be working remotely by 2025.

Initially, remote work was a necessary response to the social distancing guidelines and restrictions imposed by the pandemic. However, as employees spent more time working from home, business leaders rapidly discovered just how beneficial a flexible office environment can be. Remote working was found to support everything from better productivity to improved engagement from staff.

Now, many of the biggest employers in the UK and around the world have said they have no plans to return all of their staff to the office full-time in the near future.

If, like many employees, you’re going to be spending more time working from home, you need to make sure your home office is optimised for comfort and success.

So, where do you begin?

Start with a DSE Assessment

Almost every employee working from home in today’s digital environment will benefit from a DSE assessment. These evaluations are considered “essential” by healthcare professionals for anyone who uses display screen equipment as part of their daily routine.

Everything from your smartphone to your home office computer falls under the category of “DSE”. If you’re going to be using one of these tools for an hour or more a day, your employer is required to do a workstation assessment for your wellbeing.

Conducting a thorough DSE assessment with your employer will help to ensure you have all the guidance you need to equip your home office. Employers can often offer advice on how to avoid common problems (like fatigue and eye strain), and give you access to any useful tech you might need.

Getting Comfortable: Equipping your Home Office

Once you have the required guidance from your employer based on your DSE assessment, the next step is designing a comfortable office space. Start by choosing a dedicated room for your home office. Having a specific room to work from (rather than just working from the sofa) will help to minimise distractions, and keep you focused while you work.

Once you have your space, you can invest in the essentials for a comfortable environment, such as:

A great desk chair: Your desk chair is one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll have for your home office. Lower back pain, neck pain, and posture problems are all common problems of spending too much time sitting in the wrong chair. Investing in the right, ergonomic piece of furniture with plenty of spine and neck support will minimise these issues.
A suitable desk: Another essential piece of equipment, your desk needs to be easy to use, and well-fitted to your office space. Consider choosing a convertible desk that can become a standing desk when you need to stretch your legs. Spending too much time sitting can be detrimental to your health.
Monitors: Your monitor needs to be large enough to display all the right information in a way that doesn’t cause strain for your eyes. Two or more monitors might be ideal if you do a lot of research in your work or need to open multiple apps at the same time. And remember, a good screen resolution will also be essential to making viewing comfortable and easy.
Keyboard and mouse: Your keyboard and mouse should be separate to your computer. Consider plugging in external tools if you’re using a laptop. Ergonomic keyboards and mouse mats with wrist guards can be excellent for reducing wrist strain.

Don’t forget the little details capable of boosting your comfort too. If you find yourself dealing with a lot of eye strain, using tools like F.lux can reduce the stress on your vision by automatically changing the colour temperature of your screen.

Get A Healthy Dose of Fibre

Creating the perfect home office isn’t just about choosing a comfortable desk chair and the right monitor, you’re also going to need to ensure you’re equipped with a strong connection. The better your internet, the less likely you are to spend hours struggling with lag and poor productivity.

Take the time to assess your internet connection carefully before you begin working from home. There’s a good chance you may need to upgrade your package so you can stay on top of your schedule. Ask yourself:

How many people are using the web? If multiple people in your family are accessing the internet at the same time for working and schooling, you’ll need more bandwidth.
What do you need the internet for? While an ADSL connection might be enough for one person just browsing the web, a fibre package of 30mbps and above will be essential for anything more intensive. For regular downloading, uploading, or video conferencing, you’ll probably need to consider 50mbps and above.
How reliable does the connection need to be? Is it worth looking into a mobile broadband connection as a backup just in case? Should you consider a broadband package that includes access to mobile data, so you’re prepared if something goes wrong?

Compare your broadband options online and speak to your boss if you think you might need to upgrade your connection for working from home.

Don’t Forget the Little Details

Finally, take a closer look at your office environment and ask yourself if there’s anything else you might need to address before you jump into work.

For instance, if you’re going to be taking part in many video calls, what’s going on behind your desk chair? Do you need to tidy out a spare room to make sure you’re not showing off your storage space in every meeting? If you can’t get rid of all the clutter, there’s always the option to use virtual backgrounds or blurring with some video conferencing software. However, psychologists do believe clutter can cause higher anxiety levels and reduced focus.

Think about any added extras you might want to bring into your space to boost your creativity and comfort levels too. A little greenery in the form of a plant can boost creativity by up to 15%. Extra lamps and lighting can reduce eye strain, while helping to keep you focused during darker days.

Make the Most of Your Home Office

If you’re going to be spending more time working from home in the months and years ahead, it only makes sense to make the most of your new office space. Don’t settle for a cluttered, chaotic space that causes nothing but headaches and stress.

Work with your employer to create a home office that empowers you to perform at your best.