Working from home is a blessing for some, while others can’t even stand the idea of it. Of course, there are many positive aspects of a home office: saying goodbye to traffic, saving time on travel, meals, and gas, and most importantly, nothing competes with the coziness of your home and working in your pajamas.
However, we can’t forget about what people don’t like about a home office or the occasional telecommute. Some have a hard time remaining focused and motivated, struggling with an array of temptations and distractions.
But overall, a home office might offer more benefits to you than disadvantages, especially when it comes to productivity. A recent poll conducted by Workopolis found that more than 85% of employees felt more productive in a home office. So, how do you remain efficient? Here are the tips you need to be as productive as possible while working from home.
1. A Quiet Home Office is a Productive One
In an ideal world, you’d have a big and cozy home office, extra quiet to the thick walls and solid doors, windows, a unique and large desk that boosts productivity through the roof. But a quick reality check reveals that you don’t have any of these. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have an office that helps you be efficient.
One of the most important things about a home office is having peace and quiet. So, you need to find the perfect place or corner in your house or apartment that helps you achieve that. Once you found that, set it up the right way, using every method at your disposal to reach your goal. Repaint that part of your home, choosing a soothing, relaxing color, make it as spacious as possible, and have an excellent desk and chair.
2. Cozy, But Not Too Cozy
A great home office is a comfortable home office, but you should not make it so cozy that napping becomes more important than working. You don’t want to work in a space where after just an hour of work, your back and neck hurt, you frequently need to adjust your laptop or PC screen, or something’s off with your chair or desk.
So, you need to invest in a chair that helps you sit ergonomically for hours, helping you work in a comfortable and correct position at your desk. However, don’t forget that you need to get up after a few hours and move around a bit. Some people gave a standing desk a chance, which can also be a great option if you’ve had enough of sitting.
3. Say No to Clutter
Collecting new things and saying goodbye to older ones is one of the easiest things to do, which happens a lot in home offices. So, what’s the antidote to this problem? It would help if you made a habit of decluttering your home office:
- Throw out the papers you don’t need.
- Wash your coffee mugs or teacups every day.
- Put your books back on the shelf, and whatever is necessary to have a decluttered home office.
If you feel like you’re starting to use your home office as a storage space, it’s time to enforce that decluttering mentality. You cannot be productive in an area that is filled with unwanted junk. Once you get your mind to it, clutter won’t feel normal, only an organized and clean home office.
4. Deal With Those Distracting Colleagues, Friends, Neighbors
Some people believe that working from home means that you have more time for anything but your job. Plus, even if you remind them numerous times that that’s not the case, they still want some of your attention. It’s time to say no to that overly-chatty colleague, curious neighbor, or that friend who pops by uninvited.
If a simple but straightforward no doesn’t work, try some drastic measures: don’t answer your phone or the door. Once people realize that working from home is still very much work and you don’t give them attention, they’ll leave you alone during your work schedule. No one’s going to set your boundaries, so you have to do it yourself.
About the Author:
Arnold Katz is the Marketing Coordinator at Empire Movers, a fully licensed and insured moving company based in New York City. The professional movers offer a wide range of moving services, including local, commercial, and long-distance moving.