Working from home has never been more popular. For many people, doing so frees them from the inconvenience of co-workers talking about what happened on Married at First Sight last night or experiencing lengthy delays in getting to or from the office. While for others, it is the space where they run their own small business.
However, working from home can come with its own set of unique distractions, too, especially when you’ve got little ones running around, partners making coffee, or pets demanding attention.
That is why, if you are going to work out of a home office space, you need to set it up to enable you to be as creative and productive as possible.
The good news is that you don’t need a huge renovation budget or a soundproof booth to create something that boosts your focus, supports your wellbeing, and still fits neatly into your busy family life.
In fact, all it takes is some forward planning and a few savvy tweaks. Here are seven ways you can make it happen.
1. Have a big tidy up
It’s true what they say. A cluttered room does equal a cluttered mind. So, before you start thinking about Pinterest-perfect desk setups, the first thing you’ll need to do is a good old-fashioned declutter.
You’ll find it much harder to feel creative and efficient when you’re surrounded by piles of paperwork, unused or broken equipment, or dusty oversized folders.
For this reason, take some time to go through and streamline everything in your intended work area. This should involve sorting out what you really need and being ruthless in the way you ditch what you don’t.
If you find this results in you being left with a mountain of junk, consider using a professional service to remove office rubbish. Not only is this quick and affordable, but it will also free you up to focus on designing a fresh, clean space.
2. Choose the right desk and chair
Once you’ve cleared your workspace, you can think about furnishing it in a way that will increase your productivity.
In a corporate office, you likely have a proper desk and ergonomic chair. So, you should consider getting one for your home office.
Aside from being good for your posture, a sturdy desk will help you be more productive. It will also give you enough space to make easily accessible all the items you use most regularly within your working day
3. Get lots of natural light
Nothing kills productivity faster than a gloomy, dark and uninspiring workspace. That is why it is worth trying to incorporate as much natural light into it as you can.
Doing this will lift your mood, improve focus, and reduce eye strain, so it’s a good idea to set up your home office workspace near a window.
If you can’t be near a window, consider putting in a skylight or introducing more daylight lamps and mirrors into the room, as this will bounce more light around it.
4. Add more plants
You might not be aware of this, but adding plants to your office can go a long way towards clearing your mind and helping you be more focused and creative.
Hardy indoor plants like peace lilies, devil’s ivy, snake plants, or even rubber plants have all been linked to improved productivity.
They also have the additional benefit of purifying the air, which creates a healthier workspace that reduces the chances of you having to take time off sick.
5. Improve your tech stack
A slow laptop or dodgy Wi-Fi is a surefire way to derail your productivity. For this reason, you would be well advised to set up a tech stack that operates quickly, seamlessly and as effectively as possible.
Some of the things you can consider include faster and more efficient hardware like laptops, printers, and fax machines and a Wi-Fi extender, which will strengthen your internet connection if your office is far from the modem.
It would also be worth having docking stations if you use multiple screens or need extra ports, as well as enough chargers and electrical sockets to keep all your devices fully juiced up.
6. Personalise Your Space
While you are there to work, you are going to spend a lot of time in your home office, so you should turn it into a space you actually want to be in.
Consider adding family photos, beautiful artwork or posters with inspirational quotes, a stylish lamp, and even an essential oil diffuser.
You’ll be amazed how much these personal touches can lift your mood, and make your workdays feel less like a grind and more like a fulfilling part of your daily life.
7. Set Boundaries
If you’re serious about being productive, you’ll need some gentle ground rules that you and your family must abide by.
Family life is wonderfully chaotic, but your work hours need structure if you are to achieve your targets and goals.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to create visual cues like a “Do Not Disturb” sign, which signals to everyone that you are on an important call or team meeting.
As tempting as it might be, you should also set clear hours for yourself when you will be working in your office. Doing this will help you to achieve a better work/life balance.
