Best practices for setting up a home office
Planning to set up a home office? Here are some best-practice tips:
Make a list of everything you’ll need
Before getting started, take inventory of all the equipment and items you’ll need for your home office, such as a desk and chair, filing cabinet/storage, stationery, printer and other essentials. Measure your space to figure out how much room you have to work with when buying your office furniture.
Choose a space that's free from distractions
This is sometimes easier said than done, but try to find a space that’s quiet with as little foot traffic as possible so you can stay focused while you’re working. Also aim to separate your workspace from your personal space so you can have a healthy boundary between the two.
Don’t skimp on ergonomics
While it might be tempting to buy the cheapest office desk or chair, don’t forget this is somewhere you could be sitting for eight or more hours a day – so it pays to choose furniture that’s comfortable and supportive. Keep these ergonomic tips in mind:
- Your spine should be in a neutral position
- The top of your screen should be at or slightly below eye level
- The monitor should be at least 20 inches from your eyes
- Tilt the monitor back by 10 to 20 degrees to make you’re looking down on the screen at a slight angle