One of the great joys of working from home is that you have total control over your home office design.
And this means that you can create a workspace which maximizes your productivity and output.
Whether you run your own business, operate as a freelancer or work for another company, it is essential that you are working at the top of your game.
Take a look at these tips to help you create a more productive home office environment.
Decide What Noise Level Suits Your Needs
Some people prefer to have some background noise while they work while others prefer total silence.
If you prefer the former, you don’t have to worry too much about soundproofing, and it may also be worth investing in some decent wireless speakers to play your music.
But if you prefer peace, you will want to keep out noise as much as possible with thick doors and windows, fabrics which absorb noise, and a very clear ‘do not disturb’ policy for the other people who share your home!
Declutter the Space
If you are constantly having to scrabble around looking for things, this is time which could be much better on other tasks. It is worth decluttering, investing in some decent storage devices and implementing some simple filing systems.
And this goes for your desktop and online files as well. Simply spending a few minutes each day getting your files in order will seriously help you out in the long-run.
Sights and Smells
Add a breath of fresh air to your home office design with a desk or floor plant. This can help to distract your attention when your eyes need a break from the screen.
Another alternative is to get some fresh flowers – and these have the natural advantage of providing a pleasant scent for your office too.
If you can arrange your desk so that you are able to look out of the window, this can also give your mood a boost and positively impact your productivity and business efficiency.
Take Meaningful Breaks
For many home workers, taking a break means scrolling through social media feeds. But this isn’t the best way of refreshing your mind ready for more work. Instead, you could try going for a stroll around your block, listening to some music or doing some gentle exercise.
You are bound to feel drained if your entire working day and rests revolve around a screen. There is a fine balancing act when you are choosing the length of time for a break.
Too short and it won’t be effective, while too long may end up demotivating you from your work.
Everyone has a different way of working, so you need to implement a trial and error system until you discover what works best for you.
Remember that sometimes it is the little adjustments and improvements in your home office design can end up having a big impact on your work habits.
Thanks for the tips. I recently set up my home office and have found the advice about decluttering and organizing helpful. That has always been a challenge for me. I have found that breaking it down in steps like ‘today I’m going to organize the files’ helps.