10 Ways to Optimize Your Home Office and Boost Productivity
Working from home can be a great thing. You get to set your own hours, you don't have to worry about commuting, and you can work in your pajamas if you want. However, there are some major obstacles that come with it as well. One of the biggest is how easy it is for distractions to make their way into your office space and derail all of your hard work. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 ways that will help you create boundaries and streamline the process so that productivity isn't just an idea anymore!
Number 1: Create Boundaries
A lot of people tend to work from their couch, which can be really tempting since you are right there and it's comfortable. This will make the boundary between "play time" and "work time" blurry as well as provide a temptation for distractions such as social media, cleaning the house, watching Netflix, etc. It is best to differentiate locations for work and play, but if your space does not allow for this, do so with other subconscious mechanisms, like changing your outfit when transitioning between work/home flow states. Experiment to see what works for you.
Number 2: Prioritizing Tasks
We all have those days where we feel like there's a million things on our plate and it can seem impossible to get anything accomplished. The best thing you can do for yourself in this situation is to list out everything you have on your plate and prioritize the most important items. Determine the 3-5 biggest things that need to get done for a specific time, and when you wander, refocus on those items. Getting a whiteboard to help you visually see your tasks will help you maintain that flow state.
Number 3: Make your Space your Own
The third way to streamline your home office is by creating a workspace that reflects who you are and what you do. It can be tempting to create a space for everyone else but not yourself, which will only result in feeling disconnected from it when you work there all day long. Create a space where you want to spend time so that it doesn't feel like just another desk job. One way we can do this is through color! Adding pops of colors around our workspace makes us happy which results in better focus and concentration - plus studies show that workers will remember 18% more content with an aesthetically pleasing environment vs one without any aesthetic features such as artwork or plants on their desks.
Number 4: Clear the Clutter
Set up storage and organization using physical tools so your space is free of clutter. It also helps when there's less clutter in your work area - no more piles of papers! getting rid of unnecessary things from around our desk.
Number 5: Maintain a work schedule.
Take time off for yourself every day, even if it's just fifteen minutes of reading or taking a walk outside - this will make you more productive.
Number 6: Create a Simple Start up Routine
Cut down on the time it takes to get started by creating a simple routine. For example, set your space up so you can easily plug in and sync your phone or laptop with all of its accessories.
Number 7: Convert Emails into To Do Tasks
If you're like me, emails often pile up and get left there for the week. Create a task list of all those little things that will take five minutes or less to complete.
Number 8: Take Breaks!
Don't let yourself be chained to your desk - take breaks from time to time and make sure they are scheduled into your day. Try Breathing Exercises and Binaural playlists to help reset your mind and prime you for the next flow of work.
Not everyone is the same, and we all have different work styles. Some people thrive on taking breaks at regular intervals while others are more productive with a steady flow of uninterrupted time to get tasks done. It's important to figure out what will help you be your most productive self--whether that means working for two hours straight or taking an hour break every day.
Experimenting can show you just how much energy each type of workflow requires so that you know which way works best for you!
Number 9: Track Your Productivity with an App or a Timer
Measure your output and productivity over time. Use tools to track the number of hours you spend in different tasks, as well as which apps are most effective for you.
Number 10: Stay Healthy!
It's easy to let healthy habits slip when working from home. Get regular sleep, exercise, and try to make sure you are eating healthy - even if it is just a few days a week.
Conclusion:
We know that it can be hard to maintain productivity at work when you’re not in an office environment, but the tips we've provided should help. From setting boundaries and prioritizing tasks, to creating a simple start up routine- these 10 ways will make your home office feel like a professional space where you’ll get more done and enjoy coming into every day. Declutter and optimize your space so that you find the best flow state possible. What are some of your favorite productivity hacks? Let us know in the comments below!
Working from home can be a great thing. You get to set your own hours, you don't have to worry about commuting, and you can work in your pajamas if you want. However, there are some major obstacles that come with it as well. One of the biggest is how easy it is for distractions to make their way into your office space and derail all of your hard work. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 ways that will help you create boundaries and streamline the process so that productivity isn't just an idea anymore!
Number 1: Create Boundaries
A lot of people tend to work from their couch, which can be really tempting since you are right there and it's comfortable. This will make the boundary between "play time" and "work time" blurry as well as provide a temptation for distractions such as social media, cleaning the house, watching Netflix, etc. It is best to differentiate locations for work and play, but if your space does not allow for this, do so with other subconscious mechanisms, like changing your outfit when transitioning between work/home flow states. Experiment to see what works for you.
Number 2: Prioritizing Tasks
We all have those days where we feel like there's a million things on our plate and it can seem impossible to get anything accomplished. The best thing you can do for yourself in this situation is to list out everything you have on your plate and prioritize the most important items. Determine the 3-5 biggest things that need to get done for a specific time, and when you wander, refocus on those items. Getting a whiteboard to help you visually see your tasks will help you maintain that flow state.
Number 3: Make your Space your Own
The third way to streamline your home office is by creating a workspace that reflects who you are and what you do. It can be tempting to create a space for everyone else but not yourself, which will only result in feeling disconnected from it when you work there all day long. Create a space where you want to spend time so that it doesn't feel like just another desk job. One way we can do this is through color! Adding pops of colors around our workspace makes us happy which results in better focus and concentration - plus studies show that workers will remember 18% more content with an aesthetically pleasing environment vs one without any aesthetic features such as artwork or plants on their desks.
Number 4: Clear the Clutter
Set up storage and organization using physical tools so your space is free of clutter. It also helps when there's less clutter in your work area - no more piles of papers! getting rid of unnecessary things from around our desk.
Number 5: Maintain a work schedule.
Take time off for yourself every day, even if it's just fifteen minutes of reading or taking a walk outside - this will make you more productive.
Number 6: Create a Simple Start up Routine
Cut down on the time it takes to get started by creating a simple routine. For example, set your space up so you can easily plug in and sync your phone or laptop with all of its accessories.
Number 7: Convert Emails into To Do Tasks
If you're like me, emails often pile up and get left there for the week. Create a task list of all those little things that will take five minutes or less to complete.
Number 8: Take Breaks!
Don't let yourself be chained to your desk - take breaks from time to time and make sure they are scheduled into your day. Try Breathing Exercises and Binaural playlists to help reset your mind and prime you for the next flow of work.
Not everyone is the same, and we all have different work styles. Some people thrive on taking breaks at regular intervals while others are more productive with a steady flow of uninterrupted time to get tasks done. It's important to figure out what will help you be your most productive self--whether that means working for two hours straight or taking an hour break every day.
Experimenting can show you just how much energy each type of workflow requires so that you know which way works best for you!
Number 9: Track Your Productivity with an App or a Timer
Measure your output and productivity over time. Use tools to track the number of hours you spend in different tasks, as well as which apps are most effective for you.
Number 10: Stay Healthy!
It's easy to let healthy habits slip when working from home. Get regular sleep, exercise, and try to make sure you are eating healthy - even if it is just a few days a week.
Conclusion:
We know that it can be hard to maintain productivity at work when you’re not in an office environment, but the tips we've provided should help. From setting boundaries and prioritizing tasks, to creating a simple start up routine- these 10 ways will make your home office feel like a professional space where you’ll get more done and enjoy coming into every day. Declutter and optimize your space so that you find the best flow state possible. What are some of your favorite productivity hacks? Let us know in the comments below!
Leave a comment