Declutter your workspace, ensure calm ambience at worktable: Flipkart VP shares WFH hacks to increase productivity

“Working from home has become a part of our lives now, at least until these testing times last. And, it can be challenging for some of us. Unlike our offices, which are designed to provide a focused, professional workspace and environment, working from home comes with some unavoidable departures from our usual work habits and setups,” says Manish Kumar, Vice President, Grocery and Furniture, Flipkart.

Thankfully, the addition or modification of even simple things can create a high-energy environment at home for you to be at your productive best. Here are some of his recommended tips to ensure you’re at your most productive.

1. Declutter, store and organise
Cluttered spaces can be distracting and have been known to add to anxiety. Declutter the area around your workspace; gather stuff like loose newspapers, clothes and other household paraphernalia and lock them up in neat storage units. It will not only help you concentrate on work but also add a clean, minimalist touch of elegance to the room.

2. Set up a dedicated working area
Identify a relatively quiet spot in your house that can serve as a makeshift office space. Having a dedicated work area helps in focusing better. Get your own work table. Make sure that it is lightweight yet sturdy, and comfortable for your height.

3. Mind your posture
Whether you’re sitting on the floor or in a chair, make sure you don’t slouch. If you opt for a chair, choose it wisely. It should be comfortable, of course, but it should also be at a convenient height in relation to your desk and allow you to sit with a straight back and neck. This will greatly reduce the chances of backache and neck pain.

4. Ensure proper lighting at your work desk
Position your workspace such that it gets adequate sunlight during the daytime. As it gets late in the day, however, you will need to ensure that there’s adequate lighting in place to create an energetic yet calm ambience. Lighting can have a significant impact on productivity. If you tend to work late into the evenings or nights, it might be a good idea to get a luminous table lamp for your workstation. It will give you just the right amount of light to work, even if the other lights in the room are turned off.

5. Keep the laptop table and dining table separate
We sometimes get so engrossed in work that our meals are thrown off-schedule. Short breaks during work, however, are a must. Take off your thinking hat, or whatever other hats you might don during work, when you sit down for a meal. This is an equally good idea when you’re working from office. It is best to keep your work table separate from your dining table.