Working from home is a luxury many of us only dream about. For those who do get to enjoy a hard day’s work in the comfort of their own home, it’s more than just sitting around in your pyjamas all day. The key to productivity is having a comfortable and accommodating home office you don’t want to leave.
1. Minimise distractions
You won’t be able to get much work done if you’re constantly distracted by what’s on the TV or how loud the washing machine is in the background. Working from home doesn’t mean you get to indulge in pleasures of la casa without having to do any actual work. Choose a room that’s the furthest from any distractions and covert that into your workspace. Make sure everyone else in the house knows you’re working when you’re in there with signals like a closed door, or a “do not disturb” sign on the doorknob. If that’s not enough, try wearing headphones to block out any of the background noise.
2. Ergonomics
You’re not going to produce your best work if you’re uncomfortable. Bad posture, eye strain and repetitive stress injuries aren’t limited to the corporate office. Set up your home office to promote healthy practices such as the right height of your computer screen and a comfortable chair.
Bring the outside, in
Brighten up your home office with as much natural light as possible by opening window blinds. Try adding ferns or succulents to give the room a more peaceful setting. Not only is adding a little greenery a nice décor touch, it’s also good for your mental state and wellbeing.
3. Storage creativity
Filing cabinets might not look very nice outside of the corporate office, but they’re certainly the most effective way to store your paper work. Shop around for storage solutions that suit your home’s aesthetic as well as your work purposes. Pinterest is a great place to start the design of your home office, and a great place to find inspiration that’s also practical.
4. Replenish your stock
Pens, paper, a printer and scanner, and printing ink are all things you’re going to need on a regular basis. Don’t wait until you run out of them to run down to your nearest stockist. Instead, stock up on what you need ahead of time. That way you’ll always have it on hand and you’ll avoid having to interrupt your workflow or an important call.
