The sun is shining, and you’re in your PJs, having the first delicious sip of coffee this morning, knowing you don’t have to hurry to work because work is just a few feet away from you. Yes, there are so many good things about working from home. However, this kind of picture-perfect morning can sometimes be too cozy and lead to procrastination. That’s why you need to specially design your office space to inspire you to work as soon as you set foot in it. Here’s how to set up a productive home office.
Pick the right space
Maybe rooms in your home seem similar at first glance, and you’ve just used a method of rock-paper-scissors to choose your home office. However, each room has qualities that you need to evaluate closely. The ideal space in the house designated to work is:
- in the quietest part (you’ll want to avoid as many distractions as you can)
- has windows (natural light is quite important for the process of fast awakening, and you don’t want to fall asleep on the job, do you?)
- has enough space for everything you need
Paint it in a soothing hue
No one wants to spend a lot of time in a worn-out space. A fresh coat of paint will add to the freshness that will keep you excited to enter the room every day. However, it’s best to avoid vibrant and distracting colors in this part of your home. No matter how tempting it might be, there are better places to express your creativity (the living room, for example). You might be one of the few exceptions driven by creative chaos, and a splash of in-your-eye color might add to your productivity. But, for most of the population, that’s not the case. Psychologically speaking, the best pick might be a subtle green – the color that can calm your nerves, release stress, and boost productivity.
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You can add a little of ‘you’
Even though it’s not good to have things that interest you all around, a few little details in your favorite color can make you happy. If you love vibrant purple, it’s not the best color for the home office walls. But, a purple pencil holder or a coffee mug can be a perfect addition that will put a smile on your face as you enter and motivate you to do your best that day.
Put a plant in there
It can get lonely in a home office sometimes, and it can affect your productivity. The excellent part of conventional offices is the sense of unity and interaction with other living beings that stimulate you to do your best. But, it’s not a good idea to ask your friend to keep you company in your home office – you won’t get anything done. So, a good alternative is to put a lovely plant in your office.
Some greenery will reward you with additional oxygen
As silly as it may sound, a plant can be a good and quiet companion that will only boost your productivity and the production of your happy brain chemicals. It’s a calming addition to look at but won’t distract you. Also, plants are natural oxygen-producing ‘machines.’ Your brain needs fresh oxygen to work and memorize important stuff.
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Make it comfortable
All the things you’ll use in the office must be comfortable. You’ll spend a lot of time there! A productive day in the office will go to waste if you can’t move your head after work or if your back hurts and you can’t sleep. Uncomfortable chairs and the unfitting shape or size of the table can be a problem in the long run. It’s super important to think about comfort if you want to have a space you’ll love. A golden piece of advice is to start by finding an adjustable ergonomic chair with excellent lumbar support.
Does the yoga mat belong in your home office?
Absolutely! A little exercise on a 10-minute break can boost your productivity a lot. Also, stretching and core exercise can help you prevent back problems that inevitably come from a long day of sitting. And, your favorite muscle movement will increase the blood flow in your body and your brain, stimulating it to work better and more easily. These are good reasons to put a yoga mat and a few resistance bands in the corner of your office. For the more adventurous ones that need more stimulation to recharge during the day, you can always get a treadmill or a home bicycle too.
Decluttering is essential to set up a productive home office
Home offices tend to get cluttered with random items, particularly if children are involved. So, make sure to remove clutter from your home office regularly. Stacks of papers, novels you haven’t read, discarded coffee cups, and useless trinkets – none of those things have business being there. Don’t give in to the temptation of using that area as extra storage space, and discourage anybody else in your family from thinking that it would be an excellent place to stash the boxes of old clothing and books they’re too lazy to move to the basement. Working from home requires a clear, concentrated mind, which is impossible to achieve if you surround yourself with clutter.
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Bottom line
Working from home can be fun and stimulating at the same time. If you follow these simple tricks and set up a productive home office, it can be the best decision you have ever made. When you love your office, you’ll love getting back to it, and the creative juices will flow every day.
