Whether you’re a remote employee or working from home to run your own small business, having a home office offers many advantages.
You have the opportunity to have a flexible schedule, as well as save time and money on gas by not having a daily commute.
But setting up your own home office for maximum daily productivity can be a bit of a challenge.
Regardless of how you plan to use your home office, you need to turn non-traditional space into something that you can still work in.
Keep reading for our top tips and tricks on how to have the best office setup in your own home.
Decide Where Your Office Will Be
Some people are lucky enough to have a whole room they can dedicate to their home office but others are not.
You need to be creative with making space for your home office.
You can clean out a closet to make the perfect and productive space for your office.
You can also choose a section of a room in your house for your home office but make sure you clean out anything not related to work and store it elsewhere.
Make sure where ever you choose will be a productive space.
If you wouldn’t have something in a real office, then don’t put it in your home office.
A home office set up can work well but sometimes you need to get out of the house and have a remote office to be more productive. One blogger talks about this in more detail over at https://lifehackerguy.com.
Make a List on What You Need
Once deciding on your space you should make a list of what you will need for your home office to begin being productive.
Your list will include office items such as desk, chair, computer, printer, and telephone.
Making a list will be job-specific so you need to sit and think about exactly what you will need.
You may also need file cabinets to store paperwork for the future.
When creating your list make sure to think about your everyday work activities and how you will use your space.
Make it Comfortable
You will be working at your home office very often so you want to make sure that your space is comfortable.
When it comes to deciding on a chair for your home office there are a few things you should consider.
You will need a chair that is comfortable, the right height for your desk as well as a chair that provides good back and arm support since you will be sitting there often.
You may also want a desk that has a slide-out keyboard if that is more comfortable for you to type with.
Another great tip is to buy a mousepad that provides a cushion for your wist.
Enjoying your work from home lifestyle should be your number one priority so make sure you’re comfortable in your home office.
Don’t Be Surrounded By Chores
While you may think that working from home will be a great way to work and do household chores then you’re clearly mistaken.
Try to avoid any clutter or household chores while you’re supposed to be working.
Organize your space to get rid of any access clutter that may be preventing you from working.
Having a good system with keeping household chores away from your home office area will help you to stay productive.
Make sure to set a schedule for when you will be working so you can stick with it.
Make Sure Your Computer Is Ready to Use
When moving from an office to working remotely, you may have had to purchase a new computer for your home office or a cloud based windows virtual desktop azure depending on your budget.
Make sure that all the programs you use for your work are installed and updated. To avoid facing difficulties while setting up your workstation it is advised to prefer using software like Microsoft Office 365 which stores your emails/documents etc. and lets you access it remotely from anywhere on any device. Learn more about Office 365 Migration.
You may also look into the security best practices so you know that your information and data is secure.
Setting up your computer can be easy but you want to make sure that you’re protected.
Establish Your Work Hours
Working from home gives you plenty of room to be flexible when it comes to your work.
The best way to get your work done is by setting the hours and times you will work.
This will also help you to stay sane while working from home because you won’t feel like you should always be working.
Set your working hours so it will fit into your life and schedule.
If you’re a mom, then you may want to start work as soon as the kids go to school and take a break when they come home. Try to stick with that every single day.
Setting your own hours will help you be the most productive.
If you’re not a morning person, then you are able to sleep in a bit and get working when it’s the best time for you.
You may also want to turn off or ignore your personal phone.
Your friends and family may think that you have all the time in the world since you’re always at home but you need to set boundaries.
Let them know when it’s your time to work and when you’re free to talk or go out.
Establishing your work hours doesn’t mean you need to be strict every day.
If you want to go out for lunch with a friend, then go ahead and do it!
But don’t make it a usual thing especially if it hinders you from work.
Plan for Home Meetings
Depending on your job, you may need to arrange a space for a meeting with a client or superior.
Make sure you have space available for a visit if necessary.
You may want to have a few extra chairs in your home office or the meeting could even be hosted at your kitchen table. You may even need space for other clients to wait.
Regardless you want to keep the space that your visitors will see professional.
You will want to give them a comfortable place to sit, good lighting, and possibly something interesting to read.
Create Your Best Office Setup
No matter what, your home office space needs to be something that works for you.
Make it as comfortable as you can but also make sure you are able to remain productive.
You need to set boundaries between work life and home life and make sure you stick to them.
Having the best office setup in your home is completely up to you!
Make sure to check out our blog if you’re looking for ideas on how you can decorate your home office space.
