Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse; you’re surrounded by the comforts of your own space, but also the distractions of day-to-day life. Whether you will be working there only part-time or it will be your everyday workspace, you need to make it a productive area.
Here are some tips to making a productive home office work for you.
Designate a Space
Since your work and living space will be combined, it’s important to create some separation for your home office. Choose a room, or part of a room, that will now be solely dedicated to your job. Try to select a place that will be fairly free of distractions; if you put your office in a room with a television, or right next to the kitchen, you will be more likely to divert your attention when you should be focused on work. If you cannot devote an entire room to be your office, you may even want to put up a physical divider. A visible separation can be an important signifier for your state of mind.
Choose Your Throne
The chair for your home office is one of the most important purchases you will make. This is not a casual seat in your home, but a place where you will likely be sitting for eight hours or more per day. It should be comfortable, sturdy, and supportive. If you are stingy on a desk chair, it can lead to health issues in the future beyond just dealing with the discomfort in the moment. At the very least make sure that the chair has adjustable armrests and height, a reclining seatback, and adequate lumbar support. Or if you want to be even more healthy, try a standing desk! Reduce your risks of obesity, reduce back pain, and more by spending more time on your feet instead of your bottom.
Embrace Light
Inadequate light at your desk can put a strain on your eyes, causing long-term issues and disruption to your productivity. Let in as much natural sunlight as possible, as it increases happiness and will create an open-air feeling, unlike a cubicle. It also gives you a place to divert your eyes when you’ve been staring at your computer screen too long. Natural light and overhead house lighting may not be enough though, so embrace some table lamps, especially if you work later into the night. They create a softer light and allow you to be creative with your design.
Stay Connected
Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean your business contacts should know that you are! You should have complete connectivity to your phone, email, etc. even though you’re not in a physical office building. Get all the equipment and tech you need, including a scanner, printer, laptop, and high-speed Internet. You can also access your business phone from anywhere with the Nextiva App. Whether you’re working from home, in a physical office, or even running an errand, your cell phone is transformed into your desk phone, allowing you to use all the same features without your callers knowing a difference.
Make It Personal
One of the biggest perks of having a home office is being able to make it your own. Uniformity in desks and cubicles is required by a lot of companies, but at home it’s up to you! Choose a desk that fits your needs and personality, decorate your surroundings with personal touches, and overall transform the place into one where you want to be. If you are in a space that you enjoy looking at and being in, you are more likely to be motivated to work there! So put up some pictures of friends and family, keep fresh flowers on your desk, and do whatever else will make you happy.
A home office should create a perfect environment of comfort and productivity. Take time to think about how you really want this area to look and feel, and invest in making it suit your needs to have the best productive home office possible.
