The countless benefits of working from home include the possibility of setting your own hours, saving money and time by eliminating your daily commute, and having the ability to strike a healthier work-life balance. The key to having a successful home office, however, is creating a work environment where efficiency and productivity are promoted even when you are in a non-traditional office setting.
No matter what type of work you do from home, you’ll want a professional workspace to separate your business from your personal life. Office spaces should be located in an appropriate place with adequate lighting, comfortable office chairs, and clutter must be limited to help you remain focused. With the right approach to your home office setup, you can ensure that you succeed when working from home.
Let’s take a look at what you need to do to set up a comfortable home office where you can thrive.
Identify What You Will Need
Your office setup will depend on the type of work you do. For example, if you are a graphic artist, you may need a computer desk and a larger table or workspace for your artwork. A consultant, on the other hand, might want a private space for meeting with clients or additional space for filing cabinets. A photographer may need a studio or storage space for props and lighting equipment at home. Establishing a detailed list of your home office needs is key in helping you to set up a space that meets those needs before you arbitrarily decide that a corner of one of your rooms is a suitable home-office location.
Choose Your Area
The ideal location for your home office is a quiet space where you can work privately. This is especially important if you share a house with your spouse, children, or you have roommates to consider. Having people interrupt you may result in frustration when you work, so a private space is of the utmost importance.
If you plan on using the phone frequently, a spare room with a door will be useful to reduce noise from the rest of the house. In the case that you have regular face-to-face meetings with clients at your home office, you might want to pick a room that is close to the front entrance of your home or, ideally, that has a private entrance from outside.
Lighting Is Important
Make sure your home office has plenty of natural light. An abundance of natural light will make you feel energized, focused and has been proven to boost your mood and even increase productivity. Having windows and exposure to daylight can also contribute to your mental and physical well-being so where possible be sure to let as much sunlight into your home office as you can. Plants can also enhance your well-being, so you might want to add one or two easy-to-mind houseplants to your workspace. Keeping plants in an office has been proven to increase productivity and make you happier while you work.
Track Your Time
Research has found that you’ll be more productive if you get up and move around a bit throughout the day. During these short breaks, your mind is free to rest and recharge, but it is easy to forget to take those breaks when working at home. Whether it’s an alarm clock on your smartphone or a wall clock, be sure to track your time in the office. Tracking your time helps you maintain regular work hours and a healthier work-life balance. Creative, quirky, or interesting clocks will motivate you to get in all those important work hours while remaining rested and efficient.
Set Up A Home Office That Will Allow You To Thrive
As everyone’s work needs and styles are different, it’s important to take the time to assess how you work best before designing your home office. Once you have a plan in place, be sure to find the best possible location in your home, gather everything you need, focus on comfort as well as functionality, and start putting together a setup where you can work without interruption. With everything in place, you can get to work, knowing that you can truly thrive and excel in your work moving forward.
