With so many of us working from home these days I thought now would be the perfect time to share some tips on how to create (and keep) a productive work space.
If working from home is new to you then you might be struggling to adapt to your new working environment.
Here are a few tips that have helped me make the most of the time I have to work.
- Find a quiet spot in your house with little traffic
Before you setup a work space, make sure you find the perfect location in your house.
Not everyone has a separate home office and that’s okay! But try to find a quiet place in the house that doesn’t get used often.
The reason for this is that if you put your desk in a high traffic area such as near the kitchen or the living room it is going to become a magnet for clutter.
A cluttered work area is not conducive to productivity.
If you have to clear up your desk every time you need to start working it will chop off 15-20 minutes of your precious work time.
I used to have my office in the basement under the stairs because it is an open plan area which has a full view of the playroom.
I thought it was a great idea because I could keep an eye on the kids while I worked. Let’s all take a moment to laugh about that. The kids have never let me work in that office.
As soon as I leave the playroom, even though I am only 2 meters away and literally in the same room as them, they freak out.
So I moved my desk to the guest bedroom and that was the best decision I could have made.
If you can avoid it, try not put your desk in your own bedroom. It’s better to separate work and rest. You also won’t keep your significant other awake if you have to work late.
- Declutter your work area
As I mentioned above, you need to keep your work area clean and organized.
Start off by cleaning your desk and getting rid of any non essential items that are on your desk.
While you are at it, clean and organize your drawers too, so that you can easily find what you are looking for. File away any papers that you are not using regularly to clear up space.
Depending on your line of work, assess what you actually need at your workspace.
Most of my work is online and digital so all I really need is a desk, my laptop, a pen and paper to make notes and most importantly a spot to put my coffee.
I used to think I needed all my books and files right there next to my desk at all times but the truth is because everything I need is on my computer I very rarely need to reference anything from a book.
We keep all our books and files together neatly in the basement so when we need one it’s easy to find.
Making this separation made my workplace much more simplified and appealing.
Because I still do a lot of craft projects I organized all my craft supplies in 2 IKEA RÅSKOG carts so that I know exactly where to go when I’m looking for something, but because I don’t use them everyday it’s not necessary to have it be part of my work space.
- Adequate lighting
Make sure you have good lighting at your workspace. There is nothing more annoying than working with inadequate lighting.
Poor lighting can make you sleepy and it can also hurt your eyes.
If you can place your desk near a window with natural light, that is best. It’s also beneficial because it allows you to open up and get some fresh air while you work.
Find a good lamp which provides enough bright light so that you are able to work well at night too.
- Personalize
Finally, add one or two items to beautify your space and make it your own.
The trick is to keep it simple. Less is more. The more trinkets and unused gadgets on your desk the more items you will have to pick up when you’re dusting and the less space you will have to work.
Try minimize the decor to a picture frame or a pretty box which you use to hold paper clips or something you can actually use.
It’s also a good idea to keep some hand cream, lip-balm and a bottle of water nearby so that you don’t have to leave your work to go fetch these things.
These are just a few simple steps and tricks that I hope you will find as useful as I did.
What have you done to make your home office a productive workspace? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Sincerely,
I totally agree! A personalised clean work space is so productive. I wake up in the morning and is excited to go to my office space. Thank you for the tips!!!
I’m so glad you like my tips. Getting excited to be at work is the goal 😀