If you were a busy city dweller who only came home to sleep before the Covid-19 pandemic, you might be a bit unsure about creating an ideal working environment in your home. You might not even have a desk in your apartment. Although a Covid-19 vaccine has been developed, it has yet to be distributed in Japan. Furthermore, many companies are considering continuing remote work even after the pandemic ends. While it’s alright to temporarily work from your kitchen counter, you might want to consider investing in a better remote work setup. Your home might be your office for several more months, or even years, to come. Convinced that you should improve your work from home setup? With everything from ergonomic equipment recommendations to tips for eating healthy during the work week, we’ve got a guide to work from home essentials for you.
A comfortable Workspace
Setting up a comfortable workspace is one of the most important things to do when working from home. Working in an uncomfortable space can lead to problems such as headaches, neck and back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s best to set up your desk and chair in a way that allows you to align your computer screen to eye level. In addition, your elbows should be at 90 degree angle and your keyboard should be easy to reach. When choosing a chair, make sure that it has armrests to support your elbows and a seat that tilts forward slightly, keeping your knees below your hips. It’s also a good idea to make sure that the chair offers lower back support. An ergonomic desk and chair setup will help you maintain optimal posture throughout the work day. Don’t forget about your feet! They should be parallel to the floor. If your legs are on the shorter side, it may be necessary to get a footrest.
Ergonomic equipment isn’t just for those who work on the computer all day. If you write or draw by hand as part of your job, there are plenty of supplies that’ll help keep your hands from cramping. We recommend Pilot’s Dr. Grip pens and pencils to artists and others who prefer to work on paper. Moreover, triangular pencils can help reduce hand fatigue. If you’re attached to a tool that’s hard on your muscles, we suggest adding a pencil grip to it.
In addition to having ergonomic equipment, it’s important to take breaks frequently. If you can, make sure to get up and walk around a bit every 30 minutes. Sitting for prolonged periods of time is associated with health risks like high cholesterol, blood clots, and increased blood pressure. While you’re at it, get some stretching in! Your muscles will thank you.
Productivity Enhancing Ambiance
Some of us do our best work when it’s quiet and peaceful. If that sounds like you, do your best to set up your workspace in a quiet part of your home. Make sure the room you choose doesn’t have any street facing windows. It can be hard to get your family to keep the noise levels down, but do your best to make it clear that you need a quiet environment to work in. Sometimes, it’s impossible to create a quiet working environment no matter how hard we try. If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to invest in some noise cancelling headphones.
Not everyone does well in a super quiet space. Silence can make it harder for some people to work. If this sounds like you, take some time to think about what kind of background noise is best for you. Does music get you into a productive workflow? If so, create some work playlists! Those who miss working in an office environment with other people around should check out myNoise. myNoise offers a variety of noises that can help set the mood or mask sounds you don’t want to hear. One of their most popular noises for working from home is Calm Office, which provides users with a steady stream of keyboard clicks, copier clunks, distant conversations, and other noises you’d hear if you were in an office. All of the noises on myNoise can be adjusted to highlight or diminish certain effects. Even if you’re not interested in hearing the sounds of other humans working, you can probably find a noise on myNoise that suits your needs. There are even some that’ll help working parents soothe a crying baby.
Lighting is another important aspect of workplace ambiance. Some people do well with fluorescent overhead lighting, as it mimics a typical office environment. Others tend to get headaches or migraines when continuously exposed to harsh lighting. Get yourself the lighting that works best for you. Even if you can’t install overhead lighting in your apartment, you can get a bright floor lamp. Those who do better with soft, warm lighting should get a low watt desk lamp.
Nutritious Food
You need lots of energy to do your best work. Make sure to cook yourself some high quality, nutritious food during your lunch break. To make easy staples like sandwiches and donburi healthier, add in more veggies and use whole grain bread or brown rice. If you don’t want to have to cook every day, consider meal prepping for the week on Sunday. Sometimes, you just want to pick up takeout or get food delivered. That’s alright! But if you’re hoping to stick to a nutritious diet, get your food from a health conscious restaurant. Some of our favorite healthy restaurants in Tokyo include Elle Cafe, Hanada Rosso, Sincere Garden, and Brown Rice Canteen. If you’re used to relying on your office’s coffee machine or making a quick run to a nearby cafe for your cup of joe, you might want to get yourself a nice coffee maker. We recommend getting a french press, as they are easy to use, don’t take up much space, and can provide you with stronger coffee than a drip machine. They’re also great for the environment (and your wallet), since there’s no need to keep purchasing filters. Just make sure not to consume too much caffeine!
