So, you made the switch to working at home! This is an exciting, empowering, and freeing thing, and you should be proud of yourself.
There are, however, a few pitfalls to working from wherever you’d like. Working remotely offers the opportunity to work from a cafe, your bed, or even your lawn if your wifi reaches that far. That’s an exciting idea for almost everybody.
With that said, there is a great responsibility that comes with that freedom, and you’ll have times where you wished you were being held accountable by someone. Distractions, boredom, and lack of direction can all come into play if you aren’t careful.
That’s why it’s important to create a perfect home office. We’re going to discuss some of the things you must do if you want to perfect the office that will have you as productive as ever.
Optimizing Your Home Office
Whether you’re just starting to work from home or you’re realizing you need some guidance, it’s a good thing you ended up here.
Ideally, we would all be able to hold ourselves accountable enough to get work done from wherever we are. Sure, the occasional bathroom break, snack, or nap is something to be admired. Those things, however, can lead to a three-hour video game binge, Netflix overload, and days when you don’t even know when you got out of bed.
It’s a lot of responsibility to hold yourself accountable and essentially be your own boss! We’re going to lay some groundwork for you, though.
Take notes and imagine yourself fitting into some of the ideas listed below.
Simple is Better
You may want to embellish your home office with photos, paintings, do-dads, and other things to look at for inspiration. That’s fine, just don’t go overboard.
A huge reason that we put up family photos and memorabilia in work office spaces is to remind us of the people we don’t get to see while we’re working. Alternatively, you get to see those people while you’re working– they’re probably a room or two over.
Make your home office a place that is primarily geared towards getting work done. That means hanging decorations that are conducive to focus, won’t distract you, and are mostly out of the way.
That means that you shouldn’t have a television in your home office. We’re sorry, we know that one hurts. Additionally, don’t take naps in your home office.
Napping and relaxing in your office will give you an association with the room that isn’t conducive to working. We know this sounds pretty harsh, but your couch is literally a few steps out the door.
Account for Comfort
Keep in mind, this is your place to do work. You’ve worked hard enough to hit a point where you can work from wherever you like, and you are given the unique opportunity to create a space that’s customized just for you.
Make it fit your preferences. Look around for a chair that suits you and is comfortable. Make sure your back is in good hands, as you’ll be sitting in this thing for hours on end while working.
Additionally, make sure you have a desk for your office that’s the right size for you. There’s no reason that you have to be frustrated with any of the equipment that you’re using. You should be very picky on these points, seeing as the comfort of your setup will affect how much work you get done.
You should also think about things like temperature, lighting, window placement, and any other element that could improve the comfort of your workspace. Really tune in to what you like and don’t like and make the spot your own.
Change these elements as needed when you get started working. There’s no reason that you can’t change things up if they don’t feel right.
Keep it Clean
Don’t use this room for anything else. It seems like a great place to throw extra storage, hang out and watch a show, or do whatever else you do in your free time, but we have all been there.
Keeping the space as clean as possible and only using it for work is the best way to go. This way, you will consistently treat the space with respect, just as you would a highly sought-after office job.
Think about it, if you’ve worked hard to reach the point you’re at, you should respect your space as much as you would if you had earned any other job. You wouldn’t keep a messy office in the corporate world, so why do it in your private life?
Keep a Regular Schedule
One of the excellent things about working remotely is that, often, you can create your own schedule. It’s alright to have a little bit of give when you need it.
You’re not feeling particularly well so you sleep in an extra hour. Your daughter has to get picked up from a friends house so you skip an hour of work time and go get here without worrying.
These things are normal. Despite these little things, you should keep a very regular schedule for work. Wake up at a predetermined time, work for as long as you see fit, and stop when you say you will.
Keep the clock pretty tight when working from home. It’s a slippery slope if you start working too little or too much, and it’s important to keep a healthy routine. Lay out a good schedule and stick to it.
You can always make adjustments as you see fit. Just remember that this space is meant for working, it’s a privilege, and you worked really hard to earn it.
Need More Help?
Starting out in a home office can be difficult. You’ll get the hang of it, though, and we’re here to help you out with the fine details.
Explore our site for more ideas on optimizing your home office and being as productive as you can be.