Do you struggle to concentrate when you are working from home? Are you constantly distracted by friends, neighbors, your kids and family – or by household chores that chip away at your concentration until you give in and do them? If so, then you may benefit from building a home office that is more ‘office like’.
Focus The Mind With a Dedicated Space
Ideally, your home office should be a dedicated space that you can work from – something separate from the rest of your house. It’s OK to do the odd piece of work in the kitchen or on the living room sofa, but those are shared spaces where you are normally in your “at home” mode, and if you are going to be working from home regularly then you will want to make sure that you can do it uninterrupted.
Designing Your Space
If you have a spare bedroom, a den, or even a spacious under-stair cupboard that you can turn into an airy, quiet space to work, then you will be on the right track to increasing your productivity. Ideally, your working space should be well-lit (natural light helps) away from general house traffic (if people are walking past all the time they will distract you), and well ventilated – but also warm. A room with radiators and a window that opens is a good starting point.
The room should also be clutter free. If you put a desk in the room that you use as a laundry room and are surrounded by piles or ironing, you will not be able to focus on the task at hand.
Once you have found the right room, the next task is to decorate it. There have been entire books written on things like lighting and the psychology of color. Your surroundings can greatly affect your mood. In general, it’s a good idea to have natural, soft lighting (harsh lights and flickering fluorescents can cause headaches), and to pick colors that are soft and that warm your mood. Avoid busy patterns that might distract you and avoid dark or oppressive colors that might make the room feel cramped.
Add plants to the room – they’ll make you feel more relaxed and improve the quality of air in the room too. Some people go a step further and add a red sea max nano aquarium to keep a caged pet in the room. This might seem like a nice idea, but it could distract you, and it also means that you’ll be going into the office out of hours or on weekends to take care of the pet. It also means that family members might want to come in to see it. Ideally, you want to keep a good work/life balance, and not have to set foot into the office outside of working hours.
Pick a Good Desk and Chair
Your desk and chair play a vital role in your working environment. You should try to get a desk and chair that you can adjust to suit your height and to allow you to work with good posture. Your computer monitor should sit so that the top of the screen is just above eye level. You should be able to sit up straight and comfortably reach your mouse and keyboard while keeping a good posture and a neutral arm position. You should not have to lean, twist or bend to reach anything that you use in your day to day work.
Things like water, stationery, your phone, and anything else that you use throughout the day should be kept handy, and well stocked. It might even be a good idea to have a mini-fridge and a coffee maker in the office – this will allow you to stay ‘at work’ and still get refreshments throughout the day. If you decide on getting these appliances, especially a coffee machine, make sure you search for the best one by looking on sites similar to https://ironandfire.co.uk/. Do make sure that you have to leave the office during the day to have a proper lunch. Take that time to stretch your legs and maybe even walk to the local store to pick up something to eat if you’re not someone who meal preps. The exercise will clear your head, and you’ll be more productive for it when you come back.
Have Privacy Blinds
If you have windows in your home office, have blinds that will let some light through but reduce glare and also give you privacy. One common problem reported by people who work from home is that they struggle with the issue of people assuming that they ‘aren’t really working’. If your neighbors can’t snoop on what you’re doing, or don’t really notice that you’re at home, then they won’t be able to ask you to accept packages or “do them a quick favor”. Remember to set boundaries with your family and friends as well – because they will be just as likely to ask you to pick up a delivery, run to the shops, or get their kids from school.
An Office That Doesn’t Look Like an Office
Try to find the balance between having an office with a desk window that allows you to be productive, and one that feels welcoming. Some people like the structure of having an office that looks a lot like the one they used to work at in the city. Some people prefer to have the printer concealed in a lovely oak cupboard, and a wireless keyboard that they put away at the end of the day. Some people find the sound of a metal filing cabinet closing therapeutic. Others prefer to keep files in paper boxes on cute and quirky shelves.
Whatever you choose – Pinterest is full of inspiration – be consistent about it and disciplined about using it. Your home office space will be more productive if you use it as an office, and don’t let the work that you are doing spill out over into the rest of the house. Equip your office well, and it will work for you – and allow you to get your work done, then go home for the day!