There are lots of benefits to working from home; you can set your own hours, you don’t have an hour long daily commute and you don’t have to pay transport fees. However it can be difficult to create an exceptional home workspace, especially if you have a big family or a small home.
Can you relate to this? If so, you’re not alone. Around 20 million Brits are currently working from home due to COVID-19, and it is likely that the pandemic will have a long-term effect on how many people work from home.
Luckily we are here to help you create the perfect workspace for productivity. So whether you run a cake delivery store or a virtual admin support business, we can help!
Here are six tips to help you set up an exceptional workspace.
1. Set Up A Dedicated Area
A home workspace should be set up in a quiet part of the house. You might be tempted to work in the kitchen if there is a big table you can use, but loud noises (such as the TV or your family talking) can be very distracting, so we suggest using a more private space. Some great options include the spare bedroom, the attic or the basement. The garage could also be a good option if it is warm and dry!
2. Think About What You Will Need
If you really want to get the most out of your workspace, you should think about what you will need before setting up the space. If you run a virtual admin support business, you may need space for a printer and a filing cabinet, and if you work as a consultant you may need a separate space to meet with clients.
Once you have decided what you need, you can create a floor plan that uses the workspace wisely. You may need to get smart with space, but this is totally doable if you invest in high quality storage.
3. Move Things Around Occasionally
Lots of people put photographs or awards on their desk to motivate them, but if you don’t move these items around eventually they will fade into the background and you will stop noticing them. So we suggest setting aside half an hour every month to reshuffle your workspace; rotate the pictures around, and add new things that make you happy (such as a funny cartoon or a small plant). This will refresh and revitalise your workspace, so you will feel positive and productive every time you walk into the room!
4. Hide Items You Don’t Want To Look At
Ugly items (such as printers, wire cords and power strips) can be very unpleasant to look at, and over time this can make you feel stressed and demotivated. Thankfully it is very easy to hide things you don’t want to look at; you just need to get creative!
For instance, you can store printers in large closets, and you could use wire trackers to attach wires to walls so that they are less noticeable. This will make your home office more calming and relaxing, so you are less likely to feel frustrated or annoyed when you are working.
5. Track Time
Various studies have found that people are more likely to be productive if they take short exercise breaks throughout the day. However many people who work from home forget to do this, especially if they are focused on a difficult task – so we suggest setting regular alarms to go off throughout the day, or you could hang a clock on the wall so that you don’t forget to stretch your legs. This should help to boost daily productivity (and you will also be less likely to suffer from back or eye strain as you work!).
6. Overstock With Everything You Need
Finally it can be useful to overstock with items you need so that you don’t have to leave the office when you are working. Sure, there are pens in the kitchen – but if you have to go there to get one, you are more likely to get distracted from the current task. So make sure you have everything you need in your office; if you are a graphic designer, set up a stationary drawer with lots of pens and pencils, and if you use virtual admin support, keep the admin’s email address and phone number on a pin board so you can contact them in a matter of seconds.
