How to Create a Home Office Space
Social workers tend to spend the majority of their time out of the office, especially if you plan on helping seniors as a social worker. Much of your day will be spent traveling from one appointment to another, compiling your notes as you go, and visiting clients in their home or senior residence. There is usually little time left to head into the office.
As you work to finish up your online masters in social work through Rutgers Online, you may want to take a look around your home and consider how you can create a home office space. This will allow you to be organized at the end of the day, and ensure that your notes are always in order and your appointments are set. Setting up a home office can be relatively simple as long as you keep the basics in mind.
Look for a Quiet Area
While it’s not necessary to dedicate a whole room to your home office, it is important to find a quiet space free of interruptions. Setting up shop in the living room where the TV is and the rest of the family enjoys socializing is not ideal. If you’re tight on space you may need to be a little creative and opt for something such as a floating shelf installed on the wall that can act as your desk. You can even install one that folds up so it’s not in the way.
Install Storage for Files/Resources
Storage will be another key factor in your home office space. A small filing cabinet that you can tuck under your desk will take up the least amount of space. If you want you can opt for something a little more creative and bulky, such as installed shelving, a larger drawer system, or whatever you like.
Find the Perfect Chair
One of the most important features of your home office will be your chair. Now it doesn’t have to be big and bulky. Instead, the emphasis instead should be on the height of the chair in relation to your desk, and that it forces you to sit in an ergonomic position.
Proper Lighting
Proper lighting is another must-have in your office space. While natural lighting is ideal, it’s not always possible. There’s also the fact you may be working late hours as a social worker, so by the time you get home it could be dark. Consider adding a desk lamp or task lamp to your desk area to ensure it is properly lit at all times and you aren’t straining your eyes.
Helping You Perform Your Job Better
Social work is a very demanding job both physically and mentally, especially in terms of geriatric social work. The best solution is to prepare yourself as best you can so that you can perform your job better. By creating a home office space for yourself you’ll have that chance at the end of the day to organize your work in peace, and ensure all your records are detailed.