6 Tips for Creating a Home Workspace
Creating a productive, professional, and comfortable workspace is especially important when you’re laboring inside your own home. Whether you’re a full-time remote employee or just work from home a few days per week, these six tips will help you make the most of your office away from the office.
Minimize distractions
When you’re setting up your home office, do your best to locate it in a distraction-free spot. Even if your home is small, try to position your workspace so you’re not looking at the television, the refrigerator, or anything else that might draw your mind away from the job you need to do. You’ll also want to keep everyday home clutter out of sight.
Keep work separate
Set up your workspace in a way that helps you keep your professional life and personal life as separate as possible. A separate room with a door that closes is ideal, but there are other solutions if you have less space. For example, the Motley Fool suggests hanging curtains or setting up room dividers so you can devote one corner of a room to work. You could also invest in portable office equipment, like a folding desk, a rolling computer cart, or an adjustable laptop stand for the dining room table.
Upgrade your chair and desk
Put your health and comfort first by making sure you have an appropriate chair and desk for your home workspace. Your chair should keep you supported and comfortable all day while promoting good posture. Your desk should be high enough that you’re not hunched over to work, but low enough that you don’t have to crane up at your screen. While you’re at it, make sure your keyboard, mouse, and computer monitor are ergonomically correct as well.
Shed light on the situation
A well-lit home workspace will help to prevent fatigue and ward off eye strain. If it’s an option, positioning your workspace near a window is a great way to get more natural light. You may also need to supplement your home’s existing lights with a desk or floor lamp.
Stay organized
Keeping all your office supplies, technologies, and documents carefully organized and contained to your workspace will improve your efficiency while preventing work from invading your home life. If you can’t find much extra room, portable file boxes can easily be stored out of sight at the end of the work day. HGTV also recommends using wall-mounted shelves and vertical file folders to maximize the space you do have. In addition, it’s a good idea to corral your computer cords with clips, covers, or other organizers so you can minimize trip hazards and unattractive tangles.
Personalize your space
Personalizing your home office is a great way to get in the right mindset and make the day move faster. Meaningful photos and paintings, plants or flowers, and fun accessories are just a few of your options for creating a more inspiring and inviting workspace.
Once you’ve taken these important steps to optimize your home office, you’ll be well on your way to a more fulfilling and productive work-from-home experience.