Many of us have been working from home for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. While 80% of employees view the option to work remotely as a job perk, working from home can be a little tricky when you’re a parent. Not only do you need to be sure that you can focus on your work but you also need to be sure your little ones aren’t getting themselves into trouble.
Here are a few tips you can use to help set up a long-term home office as a parent so you can stay productive throughout the workday.
Find the quietest area possible
In a perfect world, you’d be able to set up a home office in a spare room in your house. However, not everyone has a spare room available that gives them the privacy they need. To make the most of your space, find an area that’s quiet enough for you to have some privacy and allows you to get your work done. Depending on the type of work you do, you may want to choose a spot that has a professional background should you need to meet with clients virtually. You’ll also want an area that allows you to spread out should you need additional tech equipment.
Share the space with your kids
You may need to share your workspace with your kids if you live in a small home. Fortunately, you can make this work for both you and your little ones. If you have a baby, make sure to move the furniture around to create plenty of space for baby to crawl. As your child grows and becomes a toddler, you can change the space again and create an area where they can do art, read, and play. Just be sure to keep the noisier toys outside your workspace.
Get a sturdy desk
If you have the space, it may be a good idea to get a sturdy work desk for your new home office. When you’re working from home for the long-term, setting up a desk ensures that you have a designated “work” area where you can put your job away for the day once you’re finished. This can help you maintain a better work-life balance while you’re away from the office. Just be sure that the desk you get is capable of withstanding wear and tear such as desks with laminate coatings. Coatings have two primary functions: decoration and protection, which can come in handy when you have kids.
Pay attention to network connectivity
By the end of 2020, up to 40 zettabytes of data will move through cloud computing networks. When you’re working virtually, you want to be sure to work in an area of your house where your WiFi is as fast as possible. You especially want to do this if you regularly have virtual meetings with coworkers or clients so you can feel confident knowing everyone is staying in communication.
Use multiple sources of light
If you can, make sure to set up your work area by a window with a lamp on the desk or floor. This helps to make sure that your lighting is on point should you need to make any virtual calls to coworkers, clients, or your boss. Poor lighting can leave you looking more like a movie villain when you’re on a call, and that’s never something you want.
Working from home can be challenging, but with the right home office space, you can feel more confident in your new work life. By following the tips above, you can hopefully get a step closer toward creating a home office space that makes you feel productive.
