How to create and protect your home office

If you work from home, you know how important a productive environment is. Having a dedicated workspace is a great way to achieve this. But if you’re uncertain about how to create one, we’re here to help! 

Create a productive environment

Making your space one that promotes focus will help you be your best while working. Sharing the dining table with your kids or trying to take work calls from your backyard might not be the best thing, long-term.

Do you have a rarely used room in your house? A guest room, garage, or space under your staircase? If so, see if you can repurpose it into a home office. Be sure to remove any clutter, have a suitable work surface, consider privacy and have your required tools – printer, notepad, stapler, pens - easily accessible.

If you don’t have a dedicated home office, seek out areas from which you can borrow space. You might fit a bench or a desk within a larger living space and you could include a few creature comforts like:

• good natural light
• plants that improve air quality, and
• shelving storage.

Prioritise safety and comfort

Ergonomics, comfort, and safety are important. There are a few ways you can help achieve these:

• Manage your cables to minimise trip hazards.
• Adjust your work surface, monitor and chair to the appropriate height.
• Invest in an ergonomic chair, sit-and-stand desk, or other equipment to elevate your comfort. Even a footstool or cushions can help you remain comfortable while working.

Don’t forget about your mental health

Mental wellbeing is also important, so ensure your workspace makes you ‘feel good’. This could involve having some family photos on your desk, positive quotes on a wall, or even a nice view out your window.

Establish boundaries

We get it; the temptation to answer just one more email is real when working from home. But it is important you strive to create a balance between your professional and personal spaces.

This might mean strictly working within normal business hours, taking a proper lunch break, or resisting the temptation to watch YouTube videos while on the clock. Some people even find that taking a quick walk on their lunch break helps with work-life balance – not to mention the added health benefits of exercise and fresh air.

Review your insurance

If you have home and contents insurance, check whether your policy covers specific high-value items, like laptops, or whether the cover is available as an optional extra for an additional cost.

Stay on top of what your insurance does and does not cover. See if you should make any changes to your policy to help avoid nasty surprises at claim time. In short, doing some homework now, can pay dividends in the future.

If you have a Suncorp Home and Contents Insurance policy, read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for details and for the limits, exclusions, and conditions that apply.

Explore Suncorp Home and Contents Insurance

Read more:

• Five ways to reimagine your home to create more space
• How to save electricity while working from home
• Clever hacks for maximising space in your apartment

Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision about this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it. 

The information is intended to be of general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon the information - please make your own enquiries.

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