A home office is ideal if you’re self-employed or running a part-time business. It’s the place where you can get creative and come up with new ideas and solutions.
If you often find yourself with a disorganized desk or struggle to get past your mind block, your office could be to blame. Your mood and productivity can be significantly affected by how your home office is set up meaning a loss in focus and motivation.
To make your office a hub of organization and productivity, try these suggestions.
Keep your tech updated.
Technology is a wonderful thing, but only when it is working correctly. It can be very frustrating having numerous technical issues when you’re trying to work. It can cause you to miss deadlines, lose work and stop you from communicating with customers and colleagues. This problems may be persisting due to out of date or faulty technology in your office.
So try to keep your technology up to date with maintenance checks, software updates and backing up your files. Also, consider any extra software or features you may need to purchase to facilitate your work more efficiently.
Doing this will make it easier for you to complete your work each day without having to fix constantly your computer, tablet or printer.
Keep your cords organized with options now available from The Container Store and consolidate where you can (I love the new upright ports with multiple jacks so phone, bluetooth items and laptop can all charge centrally!
Find the perfect chair.
If you spend hours each day sitting at your desk, you need to make sure you’re getting the right support. Sitting in an uncomfortable chair that lacks support for your back can affect your health and mood.
It can cause back pain, affect your posture and halt your productivity. So if your chair is stopping you from getting your work done, you need to replace it. With so many office chairs and drafting chairs available, there is no reason why you should be uncomfortable in your office.
Always choose one that is a suitable height for your workstation and offers substantial support for your back. Also consider buying a soft and attractive pillow to boost the comfort of your new chair even more.
Utilize the space you have.
If you often find your desk in disarray with papers or find your office to be cramped, the solution could be to better utilize the space you have, no matter how small.
Your office should have a natural flow and allow you to breathe easily. Spending a lot of time in a room that has little room to move or that is overwhelmed with papers is not ideal.
Rethink the layout and storage systems you have in place. Moving your furniture around to maximize your space is a great starting point. It may take some time but you will also need to declutter your papers and find better storage solutions.
Use your walls to place shelves and cabinets and consider color coding folders and filing cabinets too. This will expand your work area and make it easier to navigate. I love small catchall dishes for clips and trinkets I’d like to hold onto. Keeping my pencil and file holders within the same color palette for a clean look.
The above three tips may help you create a more functional space to work in. Remember that this is your office and it should have your personal stamp on it.
So use bright colors and place personal touches such as photographs and artwork into your office. These will help to keep your focused, positive and motivated each day.
What are some of your favorite pieces in your home office?
