Why the home office is here to stay

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more Australians have been working from home than ever before. Now, many businesses across a wide variety of industries are suggesting that this change could be here to stay.

So, with working from home (WFH) and coworking in the Northern Beaches likely to become a permanent reality for many of us, we’ve taken a look at what you can do to make working from home more comfortable and productive.

The rise of working from home

With COVID-19 lockdowns, working became a reality for 40 per cent of Australians. After seeing positive results from their employees working from home, many employers are saying that this new home office setup is likely to be permanent. At the very least, employers are prepared to allow more workplace flexibility.

Some workers will work from home permanently or for part of the week, while others will work in suburban offices rather than the CBD. This means many workers will need to create dedicated workspaces in their homes.

The home office versus the city office

Australians are known to work long hours, with many needing to travel for over an hour to get to their workplaces. This can have a serious impact on home life and outside commitments, particularly when there are children involved.

Working from home can solve many of these problems if it’s done right. Many Australians are now more receptive to the idea of flexible working, perhaps never returning to the office. Businesses, too, are convinced of the positive nature of the change, realising that they can trust their employees to work well from home if the right measures are put in place.

Increased productivity with WFH

Initially, the idea of workers being more productive at home seemed counterintuitive for a lot of businesses. But research shows that 85 per cent of Australians say they are either equally or more productive than they are at the office, and working longer each day. Employers, too, have found employees more productive.

This could be the result of reduced stress. Australians working from home say that they can enjoy a better work/life balance through spending more time with their families. They can also go for walks, take exercise classes during the day or simply enjoy the comfort of their home.

In addition, office politics are not always conducive to a productive working environment. Getting away from this enables many employees to concentrate on their work more effectively.

This increased productivity is a driving factor in many businesses enabling their employees to work from home permanently.

How to create a productive home office on the Northern Beaches

If you are likely to be working from home permanently, it is important to create a dedicated space for work. Whether you’re managing a project, writing bid documents or ordering materials for your plumbing business, you need a clean and comfortable space in which to work.

Our top tips for working from home:

  • If you’re lucky enough to have a home office, great. If not, create a barrier so you have a dedicated workspace to include your home office cabinetry and all other essentials.
  • Organise your time wisely. Plan out your meeting times, paperwork and ordering schedules, and factor in your thinking time.
  • Try to work in activity bursts of around 30 minutes, then get up, go for a walk or do some other physical activity.
  • If possible, invest in some custom-made home office furniture, such as an ergonomic desk and chair to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. Having the right home office furniture will also help you keep your workspace clean, tidy and clutter-free.

What’s happening on the Northern Beaches?

Flexible working might have been forced upon us by COVID-19, but it seems certain that for many of us, it is the new normal.

If you would like advice about selling a home or renting a property for lease on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, please contact us – we’re always happy to help.

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