Can plants help you focus better when you are working?  Well NASA were testing to see if plants can help remove certain chemicals from the work environment, but if you are just working from home then any type of plant will help with your concentration and of course they are very attractive too.

There is thought that resting your eyes on a plant rather than checking your social accounts can relax you more, it seems nature does work wonders.  We do have a short attention span, so instead of heading over to Twitter, have a look at the mini orange tree on your desk.

Plus, look at the huge market for aromatherapy, plants are there again, so that little orange tree with its fragrant blossom and teeny scented fruit, could make all the difference between feeling stressed at your desk to feeling chilled and ready for more.

If you are stuck for space in your home and can’t find room for one, then consider moving your desk outdoors and into the garden shed.  It may sounds ludicrous but for many it is a great option, it helps to separate work life from home life and creates fewer disturbances in the home.  Of course you can still wear your pyjamas to the office; you just might have to put a coat on in the winter to travel from the back door to the shed door.

If your shed is looking worse for wear then the first call to action is to ensure the roof doesn’t leak as that won’t bode well for the electric point you will need to install.  Getting the electric to your shed is pretty straight forward, you need an electrician to run cable from indoors and under the ground in protective tubing and then install a power point in your ‘new office’.

If you are worried that it will be to chilly in the winter, you can insulate the shed and cover over the walls with plaster board, plus with your electric supply you will be able to run small convector heater.  You could also have a kettle and a fridge so you can make yourself a nice warm cup of tea.

The great thing about working from your new ‘office’ is that it does actually feel as though you have gone out to work and you will find this in itself makes you more productive, you will also notice that you are more likely to take a break.  As for those who work at home, they often forget to take a much needed rest from the computer.  Another good reason to convert a shed into a home office is the fact you can shut the door on it and forget about it until the morning.

If you work from home and haven’t invested in a proper desk yet, you could be putting strain on your body and mind.  It is important to have the correct posture while you are working on a computer for long periods of time, and using any old piece of furniture in the home will become impractical latter on.

You can develop neck strain, pain in your forearms and also headaches can become a problem, on top of this if you haven’t got a designated area to work in, you could find you don’t switch off from work as it is constantly visible.  Getting the right home office furniture depends on the space you have and also your budget, but what you need to firstly invest in a good office chair.  Once you have this then you can work out the height of your desk.  If you sit in your chair and adjust the height you can find your comfort zone, where your head is level and your thighs are parallel to the floor.  This position is the optimum for avoiding neck and arm strain.

When you choose your desk make sure you can sit comfortably in your chair and that you have enough leg room, there is nothing worse for circulation than sitting with your legs crossed for hours on end.  Make sure you can reach everything on your desk without overly stretching.

There are some great desks about and an ideal solution is the modular office furniture as you can add to as and when you need to, much more appropriate than the kitchen table, as you can’t store a filing cabinet underneath that.

If anyone considers working from home then it is vital you get the basic essentials taken care of, a good quality office chair and a desk, as stated before you will be better off in more ways than your bank balance, you’ll have a healthier working environment too.