If you’ve ever worked from home you’ll be well aware that the space you use to get your head down and be productive in, is as important as the mattress and the sheets you sleep upon.
In order to have a good night’s sleep, the best bed is needed.
In order to be productive when working from home, the best home office environment is required.
Now of course everyone has different requirements when it comes to a work space. Bad backs, intense lighting, sweet smelling aromas, music technology– you get the idea. The basics however don’t change from person to person. Whether you’ve just been assigned to working from home for a company, run your own business, or are just getting ready for snow day season – check out our top tips on how to make working from home a productive and pleasant experience.
First Things First – All Rules Apply
Before you even get into your ‘office’ make sure you are:
A) Dressed for the occasion.
B) On time. (If not early!)
All the gear and no idea is a silly statement in our book. Getting into the right gear helps to give you the right idea! We’re not suggesting you get suited and booted to sit in your own home with only the cat to impress! But dressing gowns and tracksuits are called lounge wear for a reason – they encourage us to lounge around. Get into the right psychological mind set by keeping to your morning routine and dressing for the day.
Working at home dismisses you from the stress and grind of a daily commute, therefore use this extra time wisely. Clear the house of all distractions, make a cup of something and settle yourself down twenty minutes early to attack emails and post.
Environment
The colour of your new work space will affect your productivity more than you realise – it’s very easy to assume that blue and white are clean neutral colours that work well for everyone. This isn’t always the case. Refer to our colour blog post and discover which colours influence our moods and how. You will know which emotions you need to evoke or supress when you are working – everyone’s are different.
Stay Organised – File and Shelve.
It’s a simple tip but a real game changer is managing to stay organised. Keeping your work space at home tidy will keep family members/housemates happy and nag free, but it will also make your time at home much more productive.
It’s easy to become more relaxed when at home but chaos and disorganisation can have disastrous effects wherever you are. Have a filing system that you keep organised on some office shelving. Even if you have to invest in some shelves and buy a few files, it will be worth it in the end. Assign ten minutes at the end of the day that would normally be spent on a stuffy tube or in an infuriating traffic jam – to file and shelve – and clear down the day to prepare yourself for the next.
Be Creative
Home offices don’t have to be all work and no play – if you remember correctly that’s what made Jack dull a boy. If you are inspired by colours, textures and shapes then include them in your design. This is your area to do what you like with it, so make the most of it. Include artwork, cushions, lighting and mirrors to achieve an environment that brings out the best in you. If you’re lucky enough to have a room with a view, move desks and sofas so you can look out of the window.
Similarly, be creative with your time as well – if you suffer from the 3pm after lunch slump then get out and get some fresh air. If your profession requires you to write creatively and you find that you are most inspired in the morning, then get up and work early.
Working at home allows you the luxury of flexibility and creativity with your space and time – make the most of it and you’ll find yourself more productive than ever.
By Tony Fitz-Costa – Check me out on Google+.
Shelfstore is a system of creating furniture, shelving and storage solutions around your ideas – in any size, and to fit your space.
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