Before the coronavirus pandemic, working from home felt like a luxury reserved for freelancers and the lucky few employees. But now, remote work has become the new normal for many of us. If you’ve always worked in an office, adapting to a home-based work environment was likely a bit of a struggle—especially if your home is lacking space! Now that you’ve started to get the hang of things, consider making a few upgrades to better suit your work-from-home needs. Here are some tips to help maximize your productivity in a small home office.
Adapting to Remote Work
Before you start rearranging your home office, think about the kinds of changes you can make to your schedule and personal life to boost productivity during your work hours. For example, feeling isolated and lonely at home may be zapping your energy, hurting your mood, and ultimately impacting your ability to work efficiently. To combat these issues, Work-from-Home Depot recommends taking regular breaks to catch up with friends on the phone, blocking off time for energizing workouts, or adopting a pet to stave off feelings of loneliness.
Avoiding Distractions
When you’re working from home, distractions are hard to avoid. This is especially true for parents with little ones at home! Try to choose a spot for your office away from high-traffic areas of your home. While a corner of your living room may seem ideal at first, you’ll never be able to work productively with hectic household life going on around you. A spare bedroom, basement, or insulated garage is great! Also, try to minimize multitasking. As Upwork explains, multitasking increases stress, disrupts your focus, and reduces your attention span.
Tech Tools to Boost Productivity
When it comes to productivity, we can all use a little help every once in a while. Take advantage of modern-day tech tools to save time during your workday and keep your productivity in check. For example, a new laptop or tablet might be a worthwhile investment if your current equipment is holding you back. There’s nothing worse than a laggy laptop when you’re facing a tight deadline! If you want to make the most of your budget and can wait a bit, hold off until Black Friday or Cyber Monday so you can score some deals and discounts on your home office equipment. While you’re at it, consider investing in an ergonomic office chair to protect your back and joints while logging long hours at the computer.
Home Office Lighting Solutions
The right lighting can not only increase your productivity, it can also make your workspace feel more inviting. For example, you could choose a space for your office near a large window so you can take advantage of the bright, natural light. This will make your home office area feel bigger and more energizing. For an added bonus, paint your walls white or another light color. If you don’t have the benefit of a nearby window, use a combination of bright overhead lighting and lamps or light strings to make your office feel wider and more open.
Organize Your Workspace
Clutter can impact your productivity regardless of the size of your workspace. When designing your home office, implement some organizational solutions so you can keep clutter hidden and out of the way. For example, hanging wall organizers are great for storing mail, documents, and other important papers. This will keep your desk drawers from filling up with papers, so you can actually use them to store office supplies.
Fitting a productive office into a small home isn’t easy, but it’s possible with the right tools, lighting, and organizational techniques. That said, it never hurts to think about your other options. Need more space for your office? Consider moving into a bigger home! Contact American West Realty and Management to find rentals and homes for sale in Cody and Powell, Wyoming.
