Nov 30, 2017
There are lots of factors to consider when setting up your home working environment – ergonomic chairs, extra monitors, a large desk, the all-important coffee machine for that caffeine boost. However there are certain things that can help level up your productivity and maintain focus.
Read on to find out what you can do to maximise your efficiency whilst working at home.
The most common complaint when working from home is an unreliable internet connection, interrupting zoom meetings and slow downloads from online file sharing sites like Dropbox and OneDrive.
This is usually caused by the number of devices connected to the internet, and oversubscribed service providers. The average UK household will has a minimum of 9 wireless devices on the network; mobiles, laptops, tablets, smart speakers and more all occupying valuable bandwidth.
So how can you get the most reliable connection? Well the best answer is a direct hardwired ethernet cable to your router. This will give you the fastest possible speed, and keep the wireless bandwidth clear for everything else.
Laptops and PCs often have ethernet ports allowing you to connect a data cable directly into your home router giving you a dedicated, reliable and most-importantly uninterrupted line that will not fail you during your meetings.
If that isn't possible, then having strategically placed Wi-Fi boosters around the home will ensure you are always within a good range of the nearest booster. A correctly designed and installed wireless Wi-Fi network will ensure a fast speed, even if you need to roam around the house.
Ideally, a dedicated internet line which means you don't share a internet connection with your neighbourhood will ensure that the speed you pay for is what you get. There are dedicated services available in the UK which can deliver fibre optic lines directly into the home, meaning that whatever time of day it is, you won't have to worry about the bandwidth of the incoming internet connection. Meaning your focus is kept on that all important meeting with Sharon in accounts.
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Lighting is one of the most important factors that can affect productivity and mood when working from home.
Through evolution, our bodies have internalised a day and night routine called the Circadian Rhythm from the rise and setting of the sun. This change in light dictates to your body when it is time to sleep and when you should be awake.
As you can see in the image above, the colour temperature of light varies throughout the day with the highest awareness at around midday.
In the morning light is bright and cool which tells your body that it needs to be awake by blocking a hormone called Melatonin. Warmer orange-yellow light in the evening tells the body to release that hormone which helps us to go to sleep.
Warm light is not your friend in a work environment. Many homes that are utilising dining areas, living rooms, and bedrooms as workspaces have warm comforting light for relaxation, not productivity.
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This is why many homes mostly utilise warm lighting throughout. However reading lamps can be fitted with cool lighting to help you stay awake by blocking the release of Melatonin.
The best way to combat this is to open your blinds and curtains and let in natural light, which from sunrise onwards, has a cool blue tone to it that allows you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.
The right light in your workspace can have a drastic impact on how you work. Getting the right lighting conditions will let you be productive and focused on your work without falling asleep midway through a boring meeting.
Studies conducted by the Centre of the Built Environment found that working in a well-ventilated workspace with oxygen-rich air resulted in increased productivity.
A home can become polluted with a variety of toxins such as allergens from pets, dust mites, skin cells, household appliances, bad odours etc. all contribute to polluting the air. With people now in the home more than ever, there is also a high level of Carbon Dioxide produced; without ventilation and often air conditioning which recycles air, CO2 ends up circulating and is repeatedly inhaled which has an adverse effect on your mood and productivity when working.
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When we think of pollution, we usually think of external factors such as pollution from cars and public transport as well as noise pollution. However, with a smart home automation system we can provide air filtration systems that monitor and clean the air, ensuring that you can breathe clean air at home, without the airborne pollutants or contaminants, or noise from having windows open in urban areas.
Having a connected home means built-in speakers connected to your favourite music content; many of which are now equipped with features such as advanced voice control, however almost all fail on looks and sound, even the most expensive Amazon speakers fall short on sound quality.
Whilst most automatically look towards Sonos for their home speaker set up we turn to Bowers & Wilkins for their superior design and sound.
B&W Formation series is a range of wireless speakers, allowing you to build your system as you please. All of which utilise B&W’s superior sound, design and build quality delivering a fantastic listening experience as well as ease of use. From the many systems we’ve installed we can also confirm they are easier and quicker to set up when compared to a Sonos system.
If, like us, you consider yourself an audiophile - quality should never be compromised. Bowers & Wilkins ultra-premium speakers can not only stream via Spotify but also stream higher-quality / lossless audio such as Tidal. Their patented mesh network also claims a microsecond between speakers, meaning even over Wi-Fi you should not notice any lag in sound when using multiple speakers.
B&W can also easily integrate into any existing AV system without requiring copious amounts of new hardware.
If you want a speaker that exceeds expectations then Bower & Wilkins Formation series is what you need.
Whether you are working in your own dedicated office or repurposing your kitchen table, getting the right light, plugging your laptop into your router, opening up some windows and turning on some tunes from a great speaker will make working from home all the more enjoyable.
If you are looking to upgrade your home with a powerful home network, or an incredible home sound system then get in touch with us today for your Home Automation Solution.
Register for our CPDs to learn more about Home Automation.