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Start Working from Home – Tips for Building a Highly Productive Home Office
There are many benefits of working from home. Some people cherish that perfect work-home balance, for others it is eliminating the long commute, working in a quieter atmosphere, and some of us are simply more productive when working from home.
Not to mention that all studies show that people who work from their homes eat a much healthier diet and spend more time with their families. All these things are important because, in the end, people who work from home feel happier and less stressed, which enables them to be more productive.
In the past, people were thinking of a home office as a luxury, but in today’s world many people work or run their business from home. Here is the compiled list of tips that can help you build a highly productive home office.
Finding a Space
If you decided to start working from home the best way to do it is to mix-up comfort and efficiency. In order to do that you will need to find a perfect spot in your home where you can start building your home office.
It is important to keep your new office separated from the rest of the house for many reasons, the major one being preventing the loss of productivity due to a casual home environment. The perfect place for a home office would be the guest room or some other underutilized area like the basement, attic or garage.
Don’t think of your working space as second-class accommodation. Give it the attention it deserves. After all, you will be spending at least a couple of hours there each day. The best practice is to have it in an area where you can close the doors of your “office” when you are leaving work.
Nobody is pushing you to pick a spot right away. Take your time. If you would like to test some space for a day or two, feel free to do so. Pick the place that suits you best. If you have a big family you should consult with them to prevent any misunderstandings about the space that won’t be accessible to them anymore.
Furniture
The best part of having a home office is that you can pick up your own furniture. You will be looking for furniture that makes you feel comfortable and helps you be more productive. You have to keep three things in mind before you make any decisions: how long will you be using it throughout the day, your budget and the size of the office space.
The design you can choose for your office furniture varies from antique to contemporary. Every style has its pros and cons. For instance, most of the contemporary chairs are ergonomic, but can look too futuristic for your traditional home, and if you decide to go with a beautiful antique chair you might have problems, since they are rarely adjustable and as flexible as contemporary ones.
When you are looking for a table, make sure you get one with a height proportional to yours. You will be spending hours sitting at that table, which is why you need to find one that is both practical and comfortable.
Getting some extra boxes and shelves is a good idea. It will help you organize your papers, so you can easily find them when they are needed. If you have many file folders, you might consider getting a filing cabinet.
Technology
It is of great importance to get a Wi-Fi router installed in your home. It will help with the mess that cables can produce and enable you to work from your office desk, installing a docking station and your laptop.
You can avoid a busy phone line by getting a separate internet phone line. This way, you will have a separate business number at your home office, so that no business partner or client gets a busy signal when someone from your family uses a home phone.
If your computer is your main tool of the trade, don’t spare money when you are buying one. Getting the best components available will make your work much faster and easier. Spending extra money on a good monitor for your computer can save your eyesight and help you work with more efficiency.
Depending on your line of work, you might need a copier machine. Before deciding to get one, scout the neighborhood and see if there is a store that provides copying services. If you really need to buy one, try getting one of those all-in one printers with a scanner built in. You can also try out a Wi-Fi printer/scanner, which is quite compact and saves a lot of space. Try to spend money only on things you will be using every day.
Lighting
Having good lighting in your office is very important. The perfect case would be to have your office in a space that has as much natural light as possible. If this is not the case, you need to get your hands on high-quality task light. Always go for daylight replicating light sources with a dimmer switch, so you can control the amount of light you are getting. The ability to control the light’s intensity and brightness is very important, as it prevents you from putting extra pressure on your eyes.
The position of your light source and your computer screen need to be well-thought-out, so that you don’t get an annoying glare effect on your screen. To prevent any eye strain, make sure not to put your computer screen directly in front of a light source.
Take your time when positioning furniture, light sources and equipment in your new office. It can take some time before you get it just right. You can always bring in some personal items that can liven up the work environment and help you be more productive. This is your own space, so feel free to decorate it based on your own preferences.
