Working from home is nothing new. In fact, almost two-thirds of workers surveyed performed remote work before the pandemic. However, the Omicron variant means more employees are being asked not to come into the office again. So while working from your home sounds like a tremendous prospect, there are some things you might overlook when preparing your home for remote work.

Address Minor Repairs

Working from home isn’t as easy as it sounds and requires commitment and dedication. Unlike the office, many temptations cause you to procrastinate. Therefore, before you even consider remote working, you need to address anything that will cause a distraction, and your home itself can be an annoyance. For example, the last thing you need is the furiously annoying sound of a dripping tap when working on spreadsheet formulae. Repair such things with adequate coatings supplies or call in a professional. Otherwise, remote work becomes unpleasant.

Invest in a Comfortable Office

Further to making your home more professional, it is highly beneficial to create a dedicated workspace. Essentially, it would be best to make an office area akin to your place of work. This means buying at least a suitable desk and chair, whether you work with a computer or not. Working at your dining table isn’t feasible for extended periods. Keep in mind the ergonomic features of any office furniture you buy, or you risk musculoskeletal damage from repetitive strain injury. Additionally, consider supplies you require, such as paper, a printer and a filing system.

Upgrade Your Internet

Working from home and remote work often requires a stable internet connection. It’s possible you need to connect to company servers and the necessary software. Video conferencing, collaborative documentation, and cloud systems are also typical and core components of remote work. Therefore, it is recommended you upgrade your internet connection to a faster one such as fibre optic. A more immediate connection allows you to perform all required tasks optimally, which is also more secure. In addition, your employer may reimburse you for any costs incurred.

Use a Suitable Device

Like your office furniture, you also need a suitable device for working from home. A suitable device means a fully functional desktop PC or sufficiently-sized laptop. While you can access many apps and programs using a phone or tablet, these devices aren’t suitable for long-term work. They lack the functionality, and maximum screen size may strain your eyes. However, there are some exceptions, such as Microsoft Surface. But these portable devices typically cost more than more suitable PCs and laptops. 

Plan Your Working Day

When you perform your duties from home, there are many advantages. For instance, you don’t need to get up earlier for travel, and you can take breaks without your boss breathing down your neck. However, it isn’t a license to slack off, and it’s a slippery slope to failure if you disregard professionalism when remote working. A simple trick is to plan your working day as if you are at the office. As a simple example, if you have four pieces of work you know will take you two hours each, plan around them. You can complete the first two before lunch and the remaining two after.