If you are a remote office worker or entrepreneur, then having a home office is essential. But to make sure that you are productive while working from home, you need to set up your workspace to improve productivity, avoid distractions and stretch your startup budget as far as possible. Here are five ways to do that.
Prepare Your Space
First on the list is getting your actual space ready. If you are claiming the workspace as a tax write off, then you’ll need to measure the actual square footage and make sure that everything in there is for work use only. But even if you’re not claiming a deduction, you should still try to keep your space focused on work to minimize distractions and maximize your productivity.
Clean and declutter the whole room, and keep it that way. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference a little clutter can make. If you need a new desk or chair, then get them. Make sure that your chair is comfortable, as you’ll be spending a lot of time in it. Make sure your HVAC system is working properly. If you’ve got water damage and need a roof replacement or repairs to prevent further damage, then take care of it. The point is that you want to get your home office totally ready for business. Any issues that you leave unresolved will cause stress and distraction, and you need to avoid that at all costs.
Set Boundaries With Family and Friends
If you want your friends and family to respect your time and space, then you should follow actual office hours yourself. Work time is work time, and family time is family time. Don’t expect them to understand automatically. You have to stand up for yourself and make it clear that you are a working professional. Do this right away. The longer you put it off, the harder it will be for anyone to take your situation seriously.
Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need
If you are an employee working remotely, then you’ll be using company equipment, so this won’t be much of an issue. But if you are starting up your own freelancing business, then you need to resist the temptation to stroll through Office Depot every week, buying up everything in sight. A lot of new business owners do this, and they all regret it. Discipline yourself to only buy what you need and to keep your startup expenses down as much as possible.
Set Yourself Up For Comfort
First, as mentioned above, you will need to get a good office chair. If you are going to splurge on anything, a comfortable executive desk chair should be the item to splurge on. You’re going to be sitting in that thing all day, so get a good one. If you are doing a lot of work on your computer, then get an ergonomic keyboard with a built in wrist support to keep your hands at a more natural position. Your monitor should be set up at eye level to protect your neck. You might even try out a standing desk, if lack of circulation or bodyweight becomes a problem.
Set Yourself Up For Productivity
Your desk should also be set up for easy access and comfort to improve ergonomics and to increase productivity. Items you use every day can be on your desktop, but less frequently used items should be put away in drawers. Desktop clutter is a productivity killer, and it should be avoided as much as possible. Get in the habit of clearing your desk every day at the end of your workday.
Setting up your home office is an important part of your business. You want to maximize productivity and comfort while minimizing distractions and unnecessary expenses. Follow these five home business tips to get your workspace ready for work.
