More and more people are choosing to work from home as it saves money on buying or renting office space and travel expenses. It also shields you from office distractions and politics, thus making your workday more productive. Here are 7 tips for setting up a home office.
Where?
Choosing an area in which to set up your office is the first thing you must do. You could set up your office in a spare room or even a converted garden shed or garage. Some people invest in building a dedicated garden office pod. Whatever you decide, the area needs to be big enough to fit a desk, some storage units, have a power supply, plenty of electrical sockets, and internet access.
Color Your World
Setting up the interior of your home office can be a lot of fun. Look at websites such as Pinterest for inspiration and let your imagination run wild.
The color you chose to paint the office can have an impact on your mood. Painting your walls a light shade of green can induce feelings of peace and tranquility. Researchers have also suggested that it’s the most comfortable color for your eyes. If you work in a creative occupation, you could paint the walls purple because it inspires the imagination. Add some of your favorite art prints to the walls. Be careful not to have too many personal accessories as they may be distracting. You could find yourself reminiscing about your honeymoon if you are surrounded by wedding photographs.
Let There Be Light
Lighting your office space is super important. Having natural daylight from a window or open door is best. Natural light regulates the body’s circadian rhythms, promotes better sleep patterns, reduces eye strain, headaches, and drowsiness. Your overall mood will improve, and this will lead to an increase in productivity. If natural light is not available, yellow-tinted bulbs may be a good substitute.
Get Comfortable
Perhaps the most crucial piece of furniture you will buy for your office is a comfortable, ergonomic chair since you will spend most of the day sitting at your desk. It is not just about comfort but is also about health.
The best office chairs can be adjusted to your requirements, allowing you to move the different parts of the chair around to fit your body. It is important that your spine is in the correct position and adequately supported. Getting proper advice and testing various types of chairs can ensure you buy the most appropriate one. Some companies offer online chair configurators so that the chair is precisely modeled to your requirements. Bevco chairs website offers this useful facility.
Find a desk that fits into your room well and doesn’t dominate the whole space. Think about what you need your desk for. If you are an architect or designer, you will probably need a large desk that can be tilted and raised. If you only need your desk for a computer, you can get away with a small desk. If space is limited, consider a corner desk.
Put it Away
Organizing your paperwork, reference, materials, and stationery is essential to keep your work environment clean and tidy. Metal, Lockable filing cabinets are ideal for confidential paperwork, and shelves are great for utilizing wall space. Labeling drawers, files, and storage boxes reduces the chance of paperwork getting lost. A streamlined, organized office increases productivity as time is not wasted looking for items or continually tidying up.
Technical Issues
Working from a home office means that you need to be able to connect with the outside world. An internet connection is necessary for communicating through email, social media, virtual meetings, and maintaining a website.
A landline separate from your home landline can be useful as it means that you will not run the risk of being disturbed by family members or your children answering your important calls!
Up and Running
Once you have furnished your office and set up all of your equipment, you are ready to do business. To make working from home as enjoyable and easy as possible, you need to establish some self-rules.
You should make a clear distinction between your home and your office. Establish defined working hours and make sure you do not work too long; otherwise, you will feel like you are constantly at work. Take proper breaks at regular intervals.
Try not to be distracted by thoughts of chores that need to be done in the house. Get the work/home balance right.
Samantha Acuna is a writer based in San Francisco, CA. Her work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, and Yahoo Small Business.
