Due to the current state of the world, more employees are working from home right now than ever before. Although some have been able to return to a physical office, others are working remotely for the foreseeable future. If you’re one of the many still churning out work from home, you may be losing motivation and failing to work at the same level you did before the lockdowns began.

Luckily, boosting productivity may be as simple as buying a decent office chair or reorganizing your space.

Dedicate Space

One of the best ways to improve your home office setup is to dedicate a certain room or area of your house to work. Maybe that means sectioning off a corner of the bedroom or converting the guest room into an office. If you fail to create space, you may have difficulty switching off your mind and computer at the end of the day. In fact, 44% of remote workers struggle to unwind due to this general lack of boundaries.

Declutter Often

Sometimes, even those who have space don’t feel comfortable in it. If this is the case for you, the main culprit may be clutter.

Dog toys, empty coffee mugs and crumpled post-its can all find their way into your home office and create a distraction. Clear your office — and your mind — by decluttering often. Donate things you no longer use, toss the trash and wash those crusty mugs. Afterward, concentrating on work should be much easier.

Choose an Ergonomic Chair

Sure, you want to be comfortable while you’re working, but that doesn’t mean you should slump down onto the couch or into a beanbag chair to work. This setup might work for a few hours, but eventually your bad posture will distract you or even cause you to fall asleep.

Instead, invest in an ergonomic office chair with back support and actually use it. You might be surprised at how quickly your productivity skyrockets.

Stand Up

If you prefer to stand while you work, consider purchasing or making a standing desk for yourself. Make sure you do some research and use the proper anchors instead of nails that will easily come out.  Your desk is going to be holding up some expensive equipment, so make sure it’s put together well. Be sure your desk that fits your proportions so your monitor is at eye level and your keyboard is at your elbows, thus encouraging proper posture.

Standing up even just for a portion of your workday can offset the effects of sitting for too long and may reduce your risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even some cancers.

Invest in Quality Sound

Is music your main motivator to get stuff done? Consider investing in some quality speakers or earbuds to kick your productivity up a notch and boost your mood.

Putting on a good pair of headphones can even block out the sounds of your playing children and barking dog, limiting distractions and helping you concentrate. If you live alone, you might get a turntable so you have to get up, stretch and flip the album every half hour or so.

Add Some Greenery

Sometimes, all you need to optimize and beautify your work from home setup is a few house plants. Incorporate succulents or hanging plants around your home office to brighten it up and remove toxins from the air, thereby refreshing your oxygen supply and improving indoor air quality.

Decorating with plants in this way may even improve your concentration and productivity, reduce stress and boost your mood. It’s worth a try, right?

Making It Work for You

Ultimately, how you decide to improve your home workspace will depend on what motivates you and helps you focus. If you actually find plants distracting, maybe you’ll decorate your space with photos of loved ones instead. Likewise, if you hate the idea of listening to music while working, consider tuning out distractions with earplugs, white noise or ambient sounds.

Through trial and error, you’ll find what works for you. Once you do, simply focus on incorporating those things into your home setup.