6 Tips to a Workable Home Office
The following is a guest post by Maria Rainier. If you would like to write for this blog, please check out the guidelines here.
Theoretically, you could work from home lying on your side in bed with nothing but your bathrobe on, but you’ll find soon enough that it doesn’t make for much productivity (or professionalism). Having a private, well-organized and functional home office is an often undervalued and easily achievable goal that will do wonders for anyone working from home.
Invest in Good Furniture
Good furniture is underrated. If you work on your kitchen counter or on the dining room table, you’ll find that, even if you live alone, other activities will interfere with your work. If you don’t live alone, this is more reason to sequester yourself in a private home office in which you can work on furniture that feels office-approved.
Dressing and situating yourself in a semi-professional environment allows you to feel like a professional, which means you’re less liable to slack. If you’re still swiveling in your college desk chair that’s missing wheels and gives you back pain by just looking at it, it might be time to take a trip to the local thrift shop in search of some better lumbar support. Craigslist is a great place to look for quality furniture, especially between semesters when students are moving in and out of dorms and looking to sell their furniture quickly. This way, you don’t have to go into debt to get your home office in order.
Divide Your Space
Don’t try to fit everything into one corner of the office (or worse, entirely on your desk; it will give out one day). Zone your office into separate sections based on what kind of work you do there, such as printing, stapling, and hole-punching; computer work and frequently-used office supplies; reference material, including your business budget, receipts, records, and the like. This will keep your office organized and prevent things from disappearing.
When it comes to what goes on your desk, think in terms of frequent usage and utility. If you use your printer every day, keep it somewhat close to your desk, which is your home base. If you don’t usually reach for reference texts or business books, keep them in bookshelves across the room and out of the way. Minimize personal effects and knick-knacks, reserving desk space for only a few things that affect you positively, like a framed family photo or motivational poster.
Keep Records Organized
For anybody working from home, the importance of keeping organized records cannot be sufficiently emphasized. Keeping all your business purchase receipts, client information, and otherwise can save you astounding amounts of money come tax time. Consider using a filing cabinet or some manner of system. If you work entirely online and all of your records are in there, back it up onto an external hard drive. Keep your receipts in one place, not seven.
Keep it Clean
It is your business, and it is your home office, but that does not make it okay to work in a pig sty. Having a clean and organized environment has been proved to enhance productivity and positive attitudes in many studies, which means your home office should be presentable at all times. It’s good practice to imagine that every Monday your imaginary boss will come in to inspect your workspace.
- Don’t leave empty coffee or tea mugs at your desk. Take them to the sink at least every day.
- Organize and hide computer, printer, etc. cables and wires. You can use wire-ties that come with loaves of bread to do this so cords don’t snake their ways between your feet or under your chair.
- Used fabric softener sheets make excellent dusting wipes for computer screens and keyboards.
About the Author: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, where recently she’s been researching different online msw degrees and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
Tags: home office, Work From Home, working from home
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Twitter: DennisEdell
says:
Exactly the types of things I’ll love to do once my office is not my bedroom.
.-= Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Official Rules and Helpful Tips for DEDC’ Monthly Top Commenter Contests =-.
[Reply]
Alan Mater
Twitter: AMater
@Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing,
That makes two of us.
LOL
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Twitter: urdigitalspace
says:
Excellent post. I will soon turn into a full time blogger. I hope this help me a lot.
Thanks for sharing this post.
.-= Swamykant@Free WordPress Theme 2011´s last blog ..5 Tools To Escape The 140 Character Limit in Messages =-.
[Reply]
I just read a couple of days a similar post. And of course that I agree that you have to keep your desk clean and all that, but one of the most important thing is to decorate it in such a way that it will help you work better.
I know that this may sound feng shui-ish but bad organization of your workspace can decrease your performance, it’s a scientific fact.
Great article, something to remember when having a home office!
.-= Alex@Jocuri´s last blog ..Masinutele tamponante =-.
[Reply]
Alan Mater
Twitter: AMater
@Alex@Jocuri,
Agree with you here, Alex. Keeping a clean and tidy workspace can definitely increase productivity and create a more positive attitude.
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Twitter: thespotter
says:
I would also add here – put some rules for your family. When you have a home office you have to have a clearly defined rules understood and followed by your family members that when you work – you are off limits
Sometimes its hard but it has to be done in order to be productive.
.-= Alex Sysoef´s last blog ..Improve WordPress Website Conversions Using Widgets =-.
[Reply]
Alan Mater
Twitter: AMater
@Alex Sysoef,
Absolutely! Setting a strict schedule will help as well, and will benefit not only you, but the rest of your family as well.
Thanks for the comment, Alex!
[Reply]
Awesome feedback guys! Alex I love your input. It IS definitely important to keep the family in check when it comes to ones home office space. (This can even apply to friends who think you’re “not really working” since you’re at home!)
[Reply]
Alan Mater
Twitter: AMater
@Maria Rainier,
“This can even apply to friends who think you’re “not really working” since you’re at home!”
I get this one a lot, Maria! A lot of people just don’t understand the concept. LOL
[Reply]
Maria Rainier
@Alan Mater,
So true. While people rarely stop by anymore, I still have to battle with people via text or phone who expect a response faster than they would if I was working in a cubicle surrounded by suits.
[Reply]
Alan Mater
Twitter: AMater
@Maria Rainier,
Haha… I can sometimes be guilty of that. I’m always checking my phone and email, so it’s hard for me to realize that not everyone does the same. LOL
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Great Advice! I am so bad at getting distracted, I’m going to invest in some good furniture first! Thanks for the info!
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I guess if you want to work from home you have to be well-organized and self-disciplined. That’s the most important thing. Personally I used to work from home but very soon I felt the lack of socialising so I returned to a 9-to-5 work. But I sometimes work from home where I have my own study and no family members!
[Reply]
Alan Mater
Twitter: AMater
@Anna Gile,
I can understand about the whole socializing bit. It can get pretty lonely when you don’t have anyone to talk to all day. Socializing is an important of aspect of life and should be incorporated into one’s daily schedule, even if for only a short time.
[Reply]
Dennis Edell
Twitter: DennisEdell
@Anna Gile, This is one PRIME example of why you must network; keep in touch regularly with those just like you, and if you can network some locally; do lunch!
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..WordPress Plugin- Clean SEO Slugs – Double Check Your Permalinks =-.
[Reply]
This really sink in my thoughts. And how powerful you pun with your words makes me think of decluttering my disorganized home office. Yes, I am one of those who could not care less what I wore and where I work in particular. I do not have those sets of drawers or organizers to keep my files intact. And worst, I slack off.
It is an eye opener for me as everyday I read different blogs, I think most of them teaches me to maximize my time and utilize all available resources. I commend your blog and looking forward that more and more people will drop by here, to learn, grow and declutter.
.-= Jazzie @bridesmaid gift´s last blog ..5 Reasons Why Online Is The Only Way To Shop For Gifts =-.
[Reply]
Twitter: nitchiworld
says:
every much helpful but iam not able to maintain time table because i have many online ventures and cannot give specific time to each venture..
.-= Rahul solanki´s last blog ..NETELLER will no longer be offering the Net card in India =-.
[Reply]
Great post! I can say that I have an office space in our house. But still I can say that I can only have some privacy. But its helpful to have a space that you can do all your work. And its very convenient to make all things organized.
ebusinessmom´s last [type] ..WordPress Blog & SEO Example
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I have a hard time working from home. Too comfortable and too many distractions for me. I’ll start doing some work and then get distracted. Or put off working for hours at a time. Being at an office with nothing to do but work sometimes has its advantages.
[Reply]
Alan Mater
Twitter: AMater
@Tom @ pressure washing cleveland,
I can relate. I get easily distracted as well and sometimes have a hard time getting motivated to actually work. It takes a strong-willed person to be able to work productively at home.
[Reply]
This is fantastic advice!
When I first started my online biz, I worked on a laptop either from my favorite recliner or at the dining room table. My tiny little house just didn’t have room for an office.
When I got serious about working from home, though, having a real office became a priority. We managed to carve out a small corner for a desk, new computer, whiteboard, and a video camera, and my productivity (and profits) greatly increased.
And definitely agree about good furniture. There’s nothing like a shoddy office chair to destroy your back and keep you from getting your work done.
Cindy Bidar @ PLR Articles´s last [type] ..Dog Anxiety Autoresponder Pack and Free Report
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Twitter: dnigeria
says:
I am yet to have a home office.
Presently, anywhere is my office: parlour, bedroom, lounge etc and my best furniture in form of office table is my lap.
Now this is a horrible example and I definitely have to set up a good one soon.
Mex @ nigerian news´s last [type] ..RT Briscoe Nigeria Vacancies- Company Treasurer
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Keeping it clean is one most important factor to have a healthy home office. it help keeps your energy up.
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Working from home may also means distractions so it is better to set up a separate office room where one can work undisturbed. It is important to make the workplace more clutter free and organized. An organized work place can have a very positive impact.
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I agree about investing in good furniture, underrated and worth the money! But I disagree when it comes to working in bathrobes and pajamas, when I’m comfortable I’m more efficient and more focused. When I’m in my pajamas I’m at my best!
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Yes, I agree with you that if you are working at home, you should at least make a special place for your working area so you can work conveniently and you can focus more in your work. The area should be free from distractions so you can be more productive. Make a schedule on what time will you work and post it in your home office door so that nobody will disturb you when it is your time to work.
Anne @ records management training´s last [type] ..Duties of the Records Manager
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