Recent events have caused a mass exodus from the office. As the world starts to reopen whether business as usual will resume in the office remains an open question. Many have embraced the lack of commutes and a more home-centered life, while others are itching to get back to the office. While the benefits of working from home are certainly wonderful, it can also be difficult to maintain productivity outside an office setting. The key to a successful work from home flow lies in maintaining an optimal workspace. Whether you’re writing your magnum opus or just checking your weekly investment newsletter, you deserve a great home office!
Keep Your Workspace Separate
It might be a no-brainer for some, but do not work in a space where you do anything else. Do not work on your couch, do not work in your bed (you’ll ruin your sleep hygiene that way!) Ideally, you have a separate room in your house that you can dedicate to your home office. If there is no extra room in your place, a dedicated corner, a large closet, or even a makeshift cubicle can serve as a workstation. Don’t just make it a serviceable workstation, make it your own with decorations! You want to be able to step into your space, and instantly shift into your working mind.
Focus On Comfort
Above all, your workspace must be comfortable. If you live in a hot region, do you have proper air conditioning? If it drops below freezing in the winter, can you properly heat your home office? Do you have an adequate space to do your work? If your body is not comfortable, your mind will remain restless, and you’ll find it difficult to focus. Consider the lighting of your home office, if you prefer natural lighting, you might find that you are more productive working near a window. Others might find colored lighting puts them in an instant “work mode.” Investing in a few home office comforts can pay off tenfold in productivity.
Check For Ergonomics
Poor posture while working can lead to chronic pain later in life. For this reason, having good ergonomics in your home office is important. As you work in your home office, assess the space. Reflect on the following: can you work comfortably in your space while maintaining good posture? Can you look at your monitor without craning your neck? Remember that sitting for too long can also lead to health problems, so consider investing in a sitting/standing desk. Your body will thank you for mindfulness in your home office setup.
Keep The Door Closed
One of the hardest aspects of working from home is maintaining the separation of workspaces and home spaces. Even though you may understand that you’re working, children, pets, and roommates might mistakenly think you have free time. It is vital to any effective home office worker to maintain a distinct boundary around working. Make it clear to the other people in your household, when you are working you are not to be disturbed. After you make this clear to them verbally, keep the door to your office closed, so they aren’t tempted to distract you. If your home office does not have a door, a large set of headphones can also serve as an effective barrier between your home life and your work life. Noise-canceling headphones can also be a welcome relief from any noisy distracting things that may be happening in the house while you work.
Keep Your Space Clean
Clutter is the enemy of productivity. While you may not be an absolute neat freak, make it a weekly ritual to declutter your working area. Throw away any excess papers, organize your materials, and be sure to sweep and dust around your desk. Remember, there’s no office janitor in your home. Unless you hire a maid, there’s only you to clean it up. Your mind responds to its environment– if it’s messy, you’ll have added stress. If you find yourself chronically cluttered, take a page from Marie Kondo and take a day to purge your office space of anything that does not serve your productivity. A clear space leads to a clear mind, so invest the time in decluttering and maintenance.
Use a Timer to Space Working Time and Breaks
You might think that sitting at your desk for hours on end would make you more productive, but with the internet and social media, it’s incredibly easy to get distracted even sitting at your computer. Most people are productive in bursts ranging from 10-30 minutes, so use a timer to pace out your working time. A simple kitchen timer can create a sense of urgency while working. After the 10-30 minute burst, be sure to take a mini-break. After you have completed three of these bursts, take a fifteen-minute break to recharge. Good pacing is key to good workflow!
Consider Getting an Under-Desk Stepper
We all know one of the hardest aspects of a desk job is that you’re sitting all day. It can be really hard to maintain good health when your job demands that you sit at a computer. Many home office enthusiasts sing the praises of the under-desk elliptical. For those who are not familiar, there are little step machines that fit under a desk, so office workers can pedal while they do things at their desk like checking emails or the weekly investment newsletter. While it may not seem like much, all those steps can add up to burning some serious calories!
Conclusion
Working from home can be difficult, but with some time, investment, and effective strategies, you too can be a highly effective at-home worker. Though being at home can be distracting, many home workers find themselves more productive when they no longer waste time commuting and are not obligated to be at their desk when there is no work to do. Overall, many find effective home office strategies to be the key to achieving the ever-elusive work-life balance.
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