Working from home can be difficult and this is because you are usually surrounded by so many distractions. You may find that the laundry is constantly calling you, and that you just don’t have time to get everything done. Having a productive and organised workspace is essential if you want to avoid issues like this, and if you want to make that happen then you can find out everything you need to know below.
Table of Contents
Invest in a comfortable chair
It’s so important that you choose a chair that is ergonomic. If you settle for an office chair that is cheap then you will probably end up with backache and you may even struggle to sit down for long periods of time. This will really impact your concentration levels and it will also make it much harder for you to get the work you need done. So if there is one piece of equipment or furniture that you are going to be spending more money on, you do have to make sure that it is your office chair. Choose an ergonomic design that supports your back and encourages the correct posture when seated. I choose to use a kneeling chair as it supposedly allows the spine to be in a much better position to prevent back problems.
Install some good lighting
Lighting is such an important part of creating a space that is ambient. A lot of people think that they should have the brightest possible overhead light as this will open the space and make it feel less claustrophobic. This may be the case, but it can also make it feel unnaturally bright and this can provide you with an uncomfortable working space. If you want to get around this then it is always a good idea for you to have floor and table lamps. This will warm up the space with a nice steady glow without being too overpowering. You may also want to invest in a dimmer so that you have complete control over how bright the room is. If your lightbulbs are all cool tone, swap them out for warm tone and look at the output of each light as well. This will provide you with a much more comfortable space and it will also work wonders for your concentration levels throughout the day.
A much better option is to try and position your desk near to a window. Natural light is by far superior to artificial and even boosts your mood which in turn will enhance your productivity.
Remove any clutter
The more clutter you have, the less space you will have to work with. It’s so important that you make sure that everything is tidy. You also need to organise your work supplies as well. If you feel as though you have to constantly hunt for office supplies or even your laptop charger then this will make it even harder for you to stay productive during the day and this is the last thing that you need. If you want to try and get rid of as much clutter as possible then take everything that you don’t need out of the room. When you do this, you can then start with a blank canvas and this will make it way easier for you to find a place for everything. A cluttered workspace = a cluttered mind. Clear the clutter and clear your mind to regain focus.
Documentation
An organised workspace is a comfortable workspace. There is nothing more frustrating than having to dig through a pile of papers just so that you can find one particular document. If it turns out the document you need is not there at all then this can be even more annoying, but there is a way for you to avoid all of this. Filing cabinets are very affordable and some of them are very compact as well. This ultimately means that you can put all of your files in one place and you can also organise them with dividers and even sticky notes. You will never have to worry about losing a file again, and you will be much more productive as a result.
Single-purpose
If your office is also a guest room and a storage space then you won’t be doing yourself any favours at all. You need to keep your office as a single-purpose room. If you don’t then you may find that you get constantly distracted and you may find that you can’t stay on top of everything either. If you don’t have enough space in your home to do this then consider decluttering. Donate or recycle anything you haven’t touched in the last year. This will make it much easier for you to stop your home life interfering with your professional work. You need to get any distractions and clutter out of the office space.
Temperature
If you have a home office then there is a high chance that you are the only person in the room. For this reason, you need to set the thermostat to a temperature that you are comfortable with. If you are too hot, then invest in an air conditioning unit, and if you are too cold, then try and get a space heater. This way you are only ever heating or cooling the room that you are in and this can really help you to do your best work. Shut off the heating in the rest of the house to save money if you’re alone in your home office all day.
Storage
Whilst it may be tempting to buy a load of cheap toner cartridges in bulk when you see them on sale, ask yourself where you are going to store them? It’s a good idea to invest in some suitable storage for your home office, but nothing too ridiculous. Remember this is your home office and you are the only employee here, so there’s no need to have a room overflowing with stationery and sundries! Store only what is practical and use shelves or storage tubs to keep organisation under control and tidied out of the way.
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