10 Hacks to Improve Your Home Office Productivity

Working from home has become increasingly popular. What most find so appealing is having the opportunity to save both time and money by not commuting and not having a dress code. It does, however, demand a certain level of discipline and focus. That said, here are some useful tips on how to be as productive as possible while working from home.

1. Declutter your work area

You’d be surprised at just how much it helps to work at a neatly arranged desk. A mess is incredibly distracting, and you’ll surely be less productive if you waste time pushing things around to get hold of a paper clip. Put away anything you don’t use daily but still need and throw away all unnecessary trinkets. The bare essentials will prove to do a world of good for your efficiency.

2. The lights and the colour

Rethink the colour of your walls. Calming hues of green, for instance, will have a soothing effect, emphasizing balance and reassurance. Avoid intense colours that will darken the room, such as red or purple and go for more subtle nuances you like. As far as light is concerned, the more natural light you have, the better. On gloomy days or in the evening, you will benefit from artificial light but choose carefully. The best option would be to be able to adjust the lighting to your preference; something a smart led light can easily do for you.

3. Get some plants

As you know, besides being pretty to look at, plants purify the air making it much more bearable to spend your working day. If you feel you might forget to water them more often than not and you have insufficient natural light available, do a little research online and look for potted plants which don’t require much sunlight and can do without water for a couple of days.

4. The importance of connectivity

High-speed and reliable connectivity is a priority at home. Make sure you have all the required equipment such as a network router, email server and a telephone or VoIP service. Keep your mobile phone charger handy too, so you don’t miss out on a business opportunity just because your battery dies mid-call.

5. Storage

Be sure to arrange your storage space in an orderly manner. A roll-around cart can be very efficient, as well as the built-in cabinets. Documents are best stored in filing cabinets with a lock, but open shelving is ideal for books or reference materials.

6. The furniture

Your desk should fit your tasks. You can choose a traditional wooden or steel desk with a large top and drawers for storage or a modern glass one. Should you prefer a less sedentary position, try a standing desk with adjustable laptop surface. The type of your office chair is just as important, and an ergonomic office chair should reduce the stress on your spine. It should also be adjustable, with a 360-degree swivel and armrests.

7. Stay away from social media

With no one to look over your shoulder, you might catch yourself spending too much time on your social network profiles. Remove them from your browser shortcuts and log out of every account. You’d be surprised how much more you’ll get done.

8. Play adequate music

Choose your music to match the energy of the project you’re working on to keep your mind inflow. Lyric-free music is designed to help you focus and relax, and there is more than enough to choose from online with sites like YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and more. If you feel particularly enthusiastic about a project, video game soundtracks will do the trick.

9. Take breaks

Don’t get carried away and forget all about the important breaks from your work. But don’t just open up YouTube and watch a comfort clip – use your breaks to get away from your desk. Go for a walk or spend some time with other people in the house.

10. Stick to your finishing time

Your career can very easily bleed into your personal life, so we should keep those two separate. More often than not, it is too easy to lose track of time and before you know it the whole day has gone by, and you're working overtime.

Set the alarm to remind you of your limit, since there are no co-workers to leave the office with and encourage you to end at 5 pm. Working from home is different but delightful too. Set up your perfect home office and watch the productivity blossom.

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Tags: Office Decor , Remote Work, Productivity , Guest Post