home office
Do you work from home? If so, are you as productive as you could be? If you have an office or a studio at home, here are tips and tricks to help you get more out of your working day.
Problems with your workspace
When you work at an office, you have a dedicated area. You sit at your desk, switch your computer on, and you’re ready and raring to. If you’re having a meeting, you can pop into a spare room, which is equipped with everything you need. When you’re at home, the setup may be a little different.
If you’ve only just started working from home, you may not have had time to finish off your office yet. Even if you’ve been based at home for a while, you may still be finding your feet. When your home doubles up as a workspace, it’s essential to separate work and play. Don’t try and run the world from your kitchen table. You’ll find it hard to concentrate, there will be papers everywhere, and you may lose track of what needs doing on a daily basis. Trust me. I know!
Once you’ve got a workspace sorted, turn it into a room in which you want to spend time. Add an element of excitement or fun if you have a creative job, and personalize it. Just because you’re working doesn’t mean you want to stare at four blank walls all day, every day. Make sure you have enough space, invest in the equipment you need, and ensure that you’re comfortable.
how to work from home
Ironing out annoyances
It can be hard enough to concentrate when you’re working from home without any additional annoyances or distractions. If there are problems that are bothering you, try and iron them as soon as possible. Is your office too hot or cold? Are you struggling to get comfortable when you’re typing? Is the room too noisy? If you’ve got HVAC issues, get in touch with a company like Academy Air. If you need a new chair, have a look at office furniture online or visit a showroom and try some different styles out. If you’re struggling to concentrate over road noise, consider soundproofing the room or wearing earplugs while you work. It’s important that you’re comfortable so that you can focus on your work.
Establishing a routine that works for you
Routine is imperative when you work from home, but there is no universal regime that suits everyone. Play to your strengths. If you’re a morning person, tackle the most demanding tasks first thing. If you take a while to warm up, start your working day at 9 am rather than 6 am, and finish later. This is what I do. I am NOT an early morning person!
Write to-do lists, keep your filing tray organized, and manage your time using a diary. I've started using bullet journaling to keep organized and keep track of my goals. Here's my Pinterest board for bullet journaling, if you need ideas.
freelancing
If you work from home, this doesn’t mean that your day is an easy ride. Working at home can often be more taxing than going into an office because you have to contend with the temptation of home comforts. If you are based at home, take these tips on board to make your working day more productive in no time.
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