With more people working and learning from home these days, it’s more important than ever to have a proper home office. It takes more than just pushing a desk up against the wall and plugging in your computer, though. For productive working and better learning, follow the organization tips below.
1. Location Is Key
Where your home office is located is the key to success. You don’t need a lot of space – a closet or even just a section of a room is enough to create the perfect office space. It just has to be big enough to put a desk in.
Avoid making your bedroom your office, however, as this could cause you to lose sleep overthinking all the work you need to do.
2. Define Your Office Boundaries
By defining your office boundaries, you automatically enter “work mode” when you cross that line. Whether it’s an actual door and walls or a partition or curtain, outline your workspace so that your brain – and anyone else in the household – know that when you’re within those boundaries, you’re hard at work.
3. Ensure Your Comfort
It’s difficult to be productive when you’re uncomfortable, so it’s important you make sure you’re comfortable in your new home office. Invest in ergonomic furniture that’s not only comfortable but durable also. Working from home affords you many opportunities for comfort, so furnish your office accordingly.
4. Follow Work Rules
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t act like you’re working. Follow certain rules to be as productive and as efficient as possible while working.
- Keep non-work activities outside the office
- Keep your desk area clean and organized as clutter leads to chaos and stress
- Begin your day with a plan
- Don’t work in your pajamas. Get up and get dressed as if you’re going into the office each day. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie but get dressed.
5. Set Working Hours
Just because you’re not going into the office doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have set working hours. Although working from home affords flexibility, you should still keep regular hours to help you stay focused and on task.
6. Everything In Its Place
An organized office is a productive office, so do what you can to put things where they belong when you’re done with them. Stores like Ikea have multitudes of shelving, containers, and organizational tools to help you not only keep your office space neat but to make it look great, too.
7. Remember To Take A Break
When you work from home, you may be tempted to work more than you normally do when you physically go into the office. This can cause excess stress and make it difficult to unwind. Be sure to take time for breaks throughout the day and find ways to rest and relax after the workday is over.
