Here are some suggested ways on how to create the perfect virtual office space while we self-quarantine from our Guest Blogger, Jennifer Ranking (please see her full bio at the bottom of her post). Many thanks Jennifer for contributing to our blog!
It’s challenging times for many of us due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has impacted everyone across the globe. As such, many of us are being forced to work from home for an extensive period. This means some of us would have to get creative with our work spaces, particularly those who aren’t familiar with working from home on a regular basis.
As well as creating an adequate home office that fulfills your working needs, you also need a space that will be visually professional when clients video call for meetings. For motivational and psychological reasons, you’ll want to make your home office as close to a business setting as possible. If you are in a creative industry, consider using an easy to install, temporary wallpaper and long-term, designer wallcovering that has a monochromatic pattern or soothing mural colors, as seen in these examples with the Casart Wave 1 Mural or Peacock Damask.
If you’re one of those employees who doesn’t regularly work from home and require creating a virtual office in your home, here are some ideas to create one as we continue to self-isolate in our homes.
The key is to find somewhere isolated
Out of all the aspects to be considered when creating a virtual office at home, the most important aspect is finding somewhere isolated in your home. This is because it can help you to steer away from distractions but to also ensure you have the quietness you need when attending a video call. Having a space that’ll allow you to talk through important aspects of your meeting prevents you going off track and enabling a calm meeting with your respective clients.
Also, if you’re fortunate enough to be self-isolating with others it can be great to pass the time while in quarantine. From a work perspective, however, you’ll want to be as far away from them as possible during your working hours. This is to help fade out noise in the background and also prevent them from entering your work space.
A good example of an ideal home office is the basement or converted loft. It’s important that you stay away from family and pets so you’re able to conduct a proper video call.
Technology considerations
The tools that you have in your office will determine how well you are able to perform your role. Businesses have developed massively from a technology point of view in recent years, so it’ll be handy to have whatever you need available. Here are some points to consider from this point of view:
– Stay as close to the WiFi as possible so you have no issues with internet connectivity and you can work throughout the day without trouble.
– Do you need a large screen to work, or perhaps dual screens? Televisions now come with features to project your laptop screen onto the monitor. Consider whether you need this option to work more efficiently.
– Prevent worry with charging devices by sitting close to a power outlet. This means your essential devices are in working order throughout the day.
– Make sure your virtual office is based in a room that has good cell phone service, That way, if you receive any calls you can be sure you can hear the person on the other end.
Pick a space that looks professional
As well as choosing an isolated space, ensure that it also looks professional. Not only will it feel like you’re actually working in the office and you’re in a working mood, it also provides your clients with an understanding of how you’re working from home and makes yourself more presentable on video calls.
If you don’t have the privilege of working in a large space, try to set up your virtual office against a blank wall. By having a blank wall, it presents less distractions to your client if they wish to have a video call with you.
At the same time, don’t think that your clients will judge you based on the surroundings of your virtual office. They’ll be aware that everyone has different circumstances and not all employees have the privilege of having a home office or creating a suitable workspace for themselves. The best thing to do is to utilise the space to the best of your ability.
Make an effort to create the best possible virtual office for you and your clients
The COVID-19 virus has caused extremely uncertain times for all of us, making the duration of working from home also uncertain. As we may likely be working remotely for a lengthy period of time, it’s important that we try to create the best possible virtual office space and utilizing the points outlined above will help you with your choices.
Author Bio: Jennifer is an experienced interior design writer based in Manchester in the United Kingdom. She studied Product and Furniture Design at the Chelsea College of Arts and benefited from working with a business that specializes in designer furniture from previous employment. When she’s not writing she owns two dogs that take up the majority of her spare time. [You can contact Jenny via her @Jranking_ Twitter account]
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