Many of us didn’t have a formal home office before this pandemic hit. Perhaps if we did, we had one small office. With so many people transitioning to remote work now, it’s become more expensive. While some of us can still get by on a dedicated laptop, many need a dedicated work area to concentrate.  We’ll offer some suggestions on how you can create a home office that works during the quarantine and the future.

• Select the right location for your home office. Try to find a room where you can close the door and have some privacy. This is essential for dividing spaces for work, play, and meals. Avoid setting up your office in the kitchen if possible since you’ll be distracted by snacks constantly.
• Create a home office that plays to your senses. Find a place that looks calming to you. Try to find a location with natural light and some plants. Are you a person that needs it totally silent or do you need a good playlist to be productive? If so fill your IPad with new songs each week.
• Buy the right kind of chair. Use your sense of touch to find a comfortable chair that supports your back and has a comfortable armrest. Check that feet rest easily on the floor to prevent leg pain. If they don’t, set a footrest or box underneath your feet.
• Invest in the right technology for your home office. Begin by purchasing a set of noise-canceling headphones. They will block out the noises of your children, pets, and other household chaos. If you’ll be working from home for a while, you’ll also want to boost the speed on your internet and improve your network for web conferencing apps.
• Keep track of your upgrades. Creating a home office can cost more than you think. Some states, including California, have laws that will reimburse you for necessary work-related expenses.  This means you may be reimbursed for a new computer or laptop. If you work from home, you can also use a home office deduction for your part of your high-speed internet on your taxes.

Hopefully, these tips will help you set-up a dedicated workspace.  Next week, we’ll discuss the importance of hobbies and finding space in your flex home to do them. If you would like more tips, please contact Refresh Organizers & Designers at (510) 570-1292.