Secrets Of A Productive Home Office

Most people view working from home as a blessing. You get to sleep longer, don’t have to suffer through a painful commute or annoying office chitchat. In many cases, you are even able to determine your own office hours. However, being fully in charge of your own time is a double-edged sword for many. If you are just starting a business, or are only starting to work from home, you’ll need a good home office. One of the key things to ensure you are going to get everything done is having a home office that inspires you to work hard. There are many secrets of a productive home office, and we will list them here in order to help you make the most of your days working from home.

How to make your home office more creative and productive?

The best way to design a home office that inspires productivity is to follow several basic principles. Firstly, your home office should be a space you enjoy spending time in. No matter how little space you have, you should organize it in such a way that you actually like being there. Secondly, it should be free of distractions as much as possible. Finally, you should aim to keep it neat and orderly as mess can only add to your stress levels.

Keep it neat

If you’re just clearing out a space to designate your home office, make sure you get rid of anything you absolutely won’t need during your working hours. There will be things that you can repurpose somewhere else in your home, but if not, make sure to store everything that creates clutter. Once you only have the things you’ll need, ensure they are organized well. You want to make life as easy as possible for yourself, so bear this in mind when organizing the space.

Moreover, you should avoid leaving any messy piles for later. Research has shown that having messy surroundings can add to your stress. Instead of focusing on the work in front of you, you will be constantly reminded of to-do lists in the form of those piles. Keeping your space clean, neat, and organized is one of the main secrets of a productive home office.

Décor

One of the most effective ways to set up your home office for maximum productivity is to make it as pleasant as possible. From painting the walls to decorating it just the way you like, it will do wonders for your productivity. When it comes to colors, orange is often hailed as the color that is motivating and inspires focus. The brighter, the better, as well. However, this doesn’t mean you have to go crazy with the paint. You can put up a couple of things in a pleasant hue that will work just as well. A poster with a motivational quote, a print of a favorite painting, or a lamp could be some of those pieces.

Research has also shown that having plants around makes for a productive home office. Cacti and other succulents can be great additions to a home office as they don’t require a lot of attention but will enrich your surroundings. You can also add photos from your favorite holidays and similar personal effects that make you feel good whenever you see them. For many people, scented candles will help them get in the mood for focused work as well.

No distractions

Distractions are the main threat to your productivity. However, there is no one cure-all tip for this other than keeping whatever it is that distracts you away from your home office. For some people, the main culprit will be their phone, if they don’t have to use it for work. This can be solved by shoving it in a kitchen drawer or using Do not disturb mode to let you get your workflow.

Outside sounds can also be quite problematic if you are aiming at creating a productive home office. Noise-canceling headphones can be one solution, a white noise machine another. Whatever your home office situation is, one of the best ways of staying focused is keeping yourself physically turned towards the task at hand at all times.

Lighting

Another great way to make your home office more creative and productive is to choose the right lighting. Lighting is key because it will help set the mood but also ensure you see what you are working on. Having a lot of natural light is great, but will only be enough in certain times of day and in certain weather.

If your overhead lighting is not enough, consider getting some floor lamps to help. You should definitely have a desk lamp as a focus light. While many people like warmer tones when it comes to lighting, this is not exactly what makes a productive home office. Cool light coming from white bulbs will do more for your concentration.

To-do lists

Keeping a to-do list front and center is one of the secrets of a productive office. Being able to organize your time well and set clear aims will be of immense help in keeping your productivity going. Having the list visible at all times is what will keep you on the right track. Not only that, but you will feel better with this constant reminder of all the progress that you are making. Many people opt for different-sized whiteboards on the wall where they can outline their days. There are also different hanging wall planners you can get whose aesthetic will fit into your décor while being useful at the same time.