Working from home productively: setting up your desk with lighting and comfort
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
3 min reading time
A well-designed workspace determines how long you can concentrate and whether your back hurts. Learn how to optimize your home office setup.
Your home office isn't just a corner of your bedroom or a stool at the kitchen table. A well-designed workspace determines how long you can concentrate, whether your back hurts, and if you get things done. September is the time to check your setup: do your desk lamps still work? Does your chair support your back? Do you have enough space for what you need?
The basics: desk, chair, and lighting
Your workspace starts with three things. First, a desk that is high enough: your elbows should be at about the same height as your keyboard, your wrists straight. A fixed desk of 70 to 80 centimeters high is standard. Above that, the light. A screen in the dark is deadly for your eyes, and you won't see people well in video calls. A dimmable desk lamp—like a table lamp with USB—works better than a ceiling lamp everywhere. You can aim it exactly where you need the light.
A good office chair supports your lower back. It doesn't have to be an expensive gaming chair, but your chair must have height adjustment so your feet are flat on the floor. You sit here for eight hours a day, so it pays to invest well.
Organization: where your things belong
A messy desk makes your thoughts messy. You need organizers: a holder for your pens, a tray for your quick items, a place for your phone. A desk organizer with phone holder (around €5) solves several things at once. Next to it, a tape dispenser (to have your tape readily available) and a roll of scotch tape (universal, always needed). Many people leave tape lying around and waste time searching.
For paper: an inbox for incoming mail, an outbox for what can go. You can also place a utility knife in a small tray—handy for opening packages without using your desk scissors. Make sure everything you use daily is within arm's reach.
Comfort: small things, big difference
After a few hours of sitting, you'll want a distraction. A stress ball on your desk costs nothing (around €8) and helps. Also, have water and perhaps coffee ready in a mug you like to use—not in a glass you might knock over. Many people concentrate better in silent concentration than with music or podcasts, so consider headphones (even if you're not playing anything, they signal: 'I'm in focus mode').
The space around your desk also counts. Open a window in the morning light (scientifically proven better for your concentration than artificial light), and maybe put a plant in the corner. You don't have to work in a forest, but something green helps.
What doesn't belong on your desk
Your phone—unless you need it for work. It's best out of your line of sight: in a drawer, in another room, anything. Your snacks: they belong in a container, not loose on the desk where crumbs fall into your keyboard. Stacks of paper 'to do later'—you put them away or you finish them. A full desk is a full mind.
Checklist: your home office ready for October
Desk and chair at the correct height and distance from each other
Dimmable desk lamps, above and behind your screen
Organizers for pens, tape, small items
Utility knife and a roll of tape for packages
A stress ball or something to play with
No phone in your line of sight
Water and coffee (in a mug, not in a glass)
Where to find everything
A well-equipped workspace doesn't cost much. Your desk organizer (€5) and scotch tape (€6) are quick to get. For lighting, look for a dimmable desk lamp (around €60, you'll have it for years). A stress ball costs €8. Together, you'll spend around €80, and you'll work much better in the coming months.
Do you have questions about your desk setup or does your office not feel right? Email us: info@verpakkingdeals.nl. We're happy to help you further.
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