{"id":4902,"date":"2020-01-02T07:00:42","date_gmt":"2020-01-01T20:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/?p=4902"},"modified":"2022-02-22T09:47:08","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T22:47:08","slug":"home-office-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/home-office-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate home office checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Up until recently, It was a corporate perk that was growing in popularity by the day: the freedom to ditch the office and work from home<\/a>. Over the past few months, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this has become a necessity as opposed to a perk!<\/p>\n

Maybe your company lets you work from home a couple of days a week, or perhaps you work from home full time. Or your home office supports a side hustle or income-producing hobby.<\/p>\n

Whatever the case, for you, a home office is a necessity. And if you\u2019re going to spend nearly half your waking hours in that office, you want it to be nice.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re setting up a home office for the first time or you\u2019re looking to improve your space, this home office checklist will get you going in the right direction. Here are 5 things to consider.<\/p>\n

1. Appropriate Space<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You\u2019re finally free from the constraints of your cubicle! You might spend a few days working from your couch still wearing your pyjamas. But before long you\u2019re going to want an appropriate, dedicated space to do your work. Having a dedicated, quiet space is even more important if you have roommates or children.<\/p>\n

Designate a spare bedroom (or at least a quiet nook or corner) as your office space. How much space you\u2019ll need depends on your line of work. At a minimum, you need room for a desk and chair.<\/p>\n

Give yourself as much breathing room as your living situation allows. If you video chat with clients or coworkers, choose a space with an appropriate background\/wall.<\/p>\n

2. Ergonomic Furniture<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even if you already have a computer desk and chair at home, ask yourself whether it\u2019s comfortable or supportive enough to sit in for 8 hours a day. If you\u2019re switching to full-time at-home work, it\u2019s time to invest in a quality desk and an ergonomic chair. Your company may cover some or all of your home office furniture costs, so be sure to ask.<\/p>\n

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\r\n $<\/span>\r\n
51<\/div>\r\n per mth*<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Crikey nbn 25\/10<\/h4>\r\n

Best plan for 1-2 people<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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Unlimited<\/h4>\r\n

*For first 6 mths with BINGE25<\/p>\r\n Then reverts to $76\/mth<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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25 mbps<\/h4>\r\n

Typical busy period download speed (7pm to 11 pm)<\/p>\r\n *Speeds may be lower on FTTN\/B, FTTC<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n

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<\/i> Critical Information Summary<\/a><\/div>\r\n
nbn Key Facts Sheet<\/a><\/div>\r\n
More information<\/a> <\/i><\/span><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n

3. Energising D\u00e9cor<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve done the soul-less gray corporate cubicle thing at work, so, create a home office that draws you in aesthetically. Buy some interesting lamps. Pick up some wall art that you really enjoy. Go high-brow with framed prints of famous works, or go low with interesting pop-culture pieces.<\/p>\n

Colour can make a big difference, too. Don\u2019t settle for white walls. Gentle blue hues will simultaneously soothe and increase productivity, according to colour psychologist Angela Wright<\/a>. And a splash of yellow can promote creativity. Choose colours that help you reach your goals.<\/p>\n

4. Adequate Storage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There is nothing worse than a disorganised, messy office space. Storage doesn\u2019t magically make people organised of course, but not having adequate storage does make people messier.<\/p>\n

You need a logical place to stash printouts, records, receipts, and whatever else your job or business generates. Without a place to store these things, they tend to pile up and crowd your desk.<\/p>\n

There are near endless options for storage: filing cabinets, cubby or cube systems, shelves with trays and baskets, and more. Buy an option that meets the needs of your home office. Bonus points if you colour coordinate with all that energising d\u00e9cor described above.<\/p>\n

5. Sufficient Tech<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You’ll want to be sure that you have all the technology you need. This includes both equipment and service.<\/p>\n