If you are afraid that working from home will make you less productive, think twice. There are tips you can easily implement and make you more efficient than ever.
Get a separate room
Let’s face it, you can place your laptop anywhere. In fact, you could be working from your living room couch. The purpose of having a home office is to have an area designated for work where you won’t be disturbed, and you can get in the zone.
The distractions are everywhere. You could be distracted by such little things such as dirty dishes, an unmade bed, a messy wardrobe etc.
This is why your home office should always be in a separate room when there is any chance of making it happen. It will also help you get your mind off work once you are done for the day.
The Layout
If your office is really small, watch the scale of the furniture. While you need to have enough work surface you still need some space to move around and not feel trapped.
Get a narrow shelf-like desk for your computer. If you need a bigger surface for tasks such as drawing, you can add a folding or a pull-out desk.
Will seeing nice weather out and people enjoying it make you want to be outside, or will it inspire you to work? Place your furniture facing or away from the window, depending on your answer to the previous question.
Make it comfortable
Get the best out of the fact that you have a luxury of working from home and designing your own space. Create space you will gladly come to and enjoy spending your time in it.
Add personal and motivational items. Bring your favorite plants and hang photos. Make a scheme of your goals and to-do lists to keep you focused on your tasks.
Use snapper frames to display motivational statements and the said goals on your walls. Add a resting area with a comfortable chair you can use for break time, reading, or when you really feel like working from your lap.
The light
We have already mentioned a window which is almost a must in every office. The daylight does more to your mood than you would ever be able to believe.
However, if you are into creative work, it is said that dim lights are best for evoking creativity. Perhaps create a setting which will enable you to have both.
Have a window with dark treatments which you can use to simply create dark and use a dim artificial light. Apart from that light, you should also have the bright lights which will imitate the daylight once it is gone but you are still in your office.
The storage
Well, clutter is perceived as stressful by most women and some men. Regardless of which gender you are, clutter is simply not practical.
Even if it does not stress you out, when you feel cramped and when it is hard to locate things necessary for work, you will wish your office was clutter free.
Apart from regularly disposing of it, getting the right amount of storage also helps. You should have a little more than you actually need so there is additional space for new items to be neatly stored away.
If you are short on space, use the walls to accommodate the storage units. Add high shelves, and chests of drawers which can roll under the table. You can even make hanging cabinets for large items.
In a way, your home office should be an extension of your mind in its most efficient state. Note how your mind feels when it is in the zone and create the space which is just that. If it is bright, make the room bright, if it is playful, make it colorful, and so on.
