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It is great to be able to work from home, in my opinion, it enables much more flexible work/life balance. But sometimes working from home can be difficult. Especially when the task is not too specific or you have other distractions to contend with. Personally, I would really like to have a proper home office in the future so that I can maximise my productivity.
Here are some learnings I have captured over the last 6 weeks for making a productive and positive home office environment, including some inspirational pictures:
1. Natural light is important.
After trying out different areas in my flat, I realised that putting the table in front of the window made me feel more awake and helped me think clearer. Lighting is key and can change your mood, don’t underestimate the impact it can have.
2. Have a view in front of you.
In my experience, working whilst looking directly into a wall reduced my creativity and motivation compared with looking out onto a view. If this is a challenge for you, try to be creative – you could either do this by creating a view over the room (with the wall to your back) or looking out on the road, sitting in front of a window.
3. Be aware of time and processes.
It’s easy to let time flow when you are working from home. It’s therefore important to be aware of time, have a clock in front of you. It also works well with having a timer on, for example 45 min focus time working efficiently for 45 minutes and then having a break for 5-15 minutes. It can be smart to disconnect the internet on your phone when you are working in efficient time slots so that social media and other distractions are kept at bay.
4. Be aware of what’s behind you.
Increasingly, business is conducted over video calls. To make it look professional, make sure that you background appears clean and tidy and doesn’t draw too much attention. Some extra table lights that can be tilted towards your face can also help, since sometimes a home office can appear very dark.
5. Keep it clean and tidy.
It’s easy to be distracted if your surroundings are not tidy or items not in place. Make sure that you have all the right equipment and that you tidy it up the evening before so you can hit the ground running in the morning. Important items for me: notebook, pens next to PC, a table calendar, all cords, power stations in order, a water glass with straw, a coffee mug, a lamp and some flowers.
My Home Office Items Favourites
Moleskine Pro
Desk Calendar
Coffee Mug
Pro Pen
Water Tumbler
Fresh Flowers
6. Keep the role specific.
The problem with a home office is that it’s easy to blend your personal identity and your work identity. Therefore, make sure that you have your own space and that the space is specifically allocated to your work mode. Have a space where you do not get distracted from others or from screens and leisure activities.
What helps you to work well from home?
