Home Office | Not only the technology counts

Our eyes love variety. Always looking at the screen or the calendar on the wall, they are overwhelmed. A frequent consequence: dry eyes, the "Office Eye Syndrome" or "Gamer Eye" - combined with headaches and early tiredness in the evening. In addition, the concentration decreases and the rate of mistakes increases. Simple remedy: Let your eyes wander - preferably with a look at the first green of spring. During the conference call, don't look at the screen, but out of the window.

Why do some participants always look so good in video conferences - and others don't? It's often because of the light - more precisely, the incidence of light. Ideally it comes from the front - from the direction of the camera. There are corresponding USB cameras for the PC that have a built-in spotlight. But you can also use an ordinary lamp (preferably LED), which you point at your face. Pay attention to the correct "colour temperature" - we recommend "cold white" or "daylight white" LEDs (it is written on the packaging). Sold and the light is too bright or the colour tone does not please you? Then glue a parchment paper as a filter in front of the lamp (with LEDs this works because they don't get hot).

You suddenly work where you usually live. Take the opportunity to briefly show your home during a video conference or the WhatsApp call (it doesn't have to be perfectly tidy). This creates closeness to your colleagues and brings you together even from a distance.

Loose laid cables are tripping hazards. So lay your power cables for notebook and monitor safely along the wall, fasten them - if possible - with additional "Gaffa Tape". There are even special versions with a "tunnel" for the cables (so they don't get sticky). You should also connect headphones and microphone wirelessly to your computer. One cable that you should treat yourself to is a network cable to connect your computer directly to your router. Why? The connection is much faster and more stable - even though wireless LAN seems more convenient.

If you don't have the morning sprint to catch the train to the office or the bike ride to the office - then your body lacks exercise. Compensate at work: Get up in the conference call and walk around the room a little (also improves concentration). Are you waiting for the desired feedback from your colleague in the chat? Use the time for stretching exercises. Do not fall on the sofa immediately after work. If you can't leave your apartment, at least open the window, let fresh air in and get your circulation going with simple exercises (squats, running on the spot, ...).

Your home office is painted white? Change it next weekend. Beyond the "I've done something" feeling - white color reflects the light and tires your eyes in the long run. Other colours also influence how we talk to each other, whether we can focus on a topic or relax. Unfortunately, there is no "right" colour - but it is a good idea to at least tone down white colour and combine it with yellow or orange.

What we probably all miss most at the moment is contact with other people. The morning coffee or tea together. The question, "Would you like to have dinner with me?" The "Have you heard?". And above all: Together we laugh much more (and it's so healthy - for example, it makes the blood more resistant than usual and increases the number of happiness hormones, the endorphins). So what do you do when your mood drops and motivation decreases? Trick your brain with a simple grip - Vera F. Birkenbihl explains the background in this video and shows exactly how it works.

Work done? Then: computer off, lights off, monitor off - and throw a cloth or blanket over your mobile office in the bedroom, kitchen, hallway or wherever you have set up your workspace at home. That's a little bit (like for a short time) of closing your office door: Now it's over, off you go home. If you see your workplace over and over again, you can't relax, you can't recharge your batteries. You don't have a picture of your normal workplace hanging in your hallway - do you?