Working from Home: Tips for Safety and Comfort
Working from home has become something of a ‘new normal’ for workers in the UK, with a third of workers on average working from home at least once a week. As more and more organisations begin to officially offer remote working and hybrid working agreements, the home office is becoming a key tool for today’s working population. If you’re in the process of building your own home office, what should you consider for maximum safety and comfort?
Removing Hazards
When decorating your new home office or working space, it can be tempting to run away with the creative brief and make it the cosiest possible working environment. But not only can making your workspace cosy impact your motivation; it can also introduce new hazards.
Trips and falls are a leading cause of personal injury, and the inclusion of deep carpets or excessive rugs in your cosy new office room can increase the likelihood of you tripping up and hurting yourself. This may seem absurd to think about so earnestly, but illustrates well the ways in which some of your décor decisions could actually impact your professional life. Keep your office simple, and you won’t find yourself taking unexpected time off work due to a freak accident at home.
Addressing Lighting
By this same token, when thinking about lighting your home office you’ll need to think about practicality just as much as comfort. Exclusively cosy, ambient lighting might make for a comfortable ‘mood’ in your office, but it can also result in eye strain and increased risk of tripping due to low light.
You should ensure your desk has a solid, bright light source above, so you aren’t hurting your eyes to work effectively. Subtle ambient lighting can be used for aesthetic effect, while your room retains function and purpose.
Use a Standing Desk
Speaking of desks, you should replace your conventional desk with a standing one if you have the budget to do so. Standing desks can be revolutionary for posture and muscular health, with sedentary desk jobs often leading to back-related issues and even cardiovascular disease.
An adjustable standing desk means you can work comfortably at different elevations, and avoid unnecessary back injuries during your day-to-day work. You can also introduce a treadmill, to turn your standing desk into a ‘walking’ desk and replace any exercise you may have lost from giving up your commute.
Ergonomic Furniture
As a wider point, investing a little in ergonomic items of office furniture can go a long way to preserving your long-term comfort in your home office. A desk chair with good lumbar support can be the difference between a motivated day’s work and a distracted one – not to mention the long-term impact a poor chair can have on your posture!
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