If you’re working from home for the first time and not getting as much done as you thought you would, you’re not alone. Thanks to COVID-19, our working lives are turned upside down just as much as our social lives are. Being productive when you work from home doesn’t happen by magic, and much of your success is due to your home office.
Here are a few tips to create a home office space that makes it easy to get work done.
Designate a Space
Working from your bed or the couch sounds fun in theory until you realize you’d rather nap or binge watch Netflix. You don’t need a separate room for your home office, although it’s nice to have. It’s most important to create a space for work that’s separate from where you sleep or relax. A corner of your living room or dining room can be perfect. Use an existing table or order yourself a desk, depending on the space and your budget.
Give Yourself Light
In a perfect world, you’d work near a window to take advantage of natural light and enjoy a relaxing view. But if that’s not an option, commandeer a lamp from another room for your office space. No matter how much glow your laptop or computer gives off, you still need plenty of extra light to see. It also keeps you alert and makes it easier to focus on the work at hand.
Set Up a Good Desk Area
A few things go into making your desk work for you (instead of the other way around). Decide if you’re using a standing desk (maybe a countertop) or a seated desk. If you’re sitting, your chair needs to be comfortable and provide support for your back. A cushion or pillow will do the trick in a pinch. You also want to set up your monitor at eye level (on a stand or a stack of books) to avoid neck strain. As long as you’re comfortable, it’s easy to stay in one place and get work done.
Keep Your Space Neat and Tidy
From the tabs in your browser to the papers on your desk, how cluttered or tidy your work space is determines your productivity. Work on one thing at a time, whenever possible, and put things away as you finish with them. Stacks of paper, open documents, and the typical “clutter” of work slow you down when you’re at the office and at home.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
Unless you have a Zoom dress code to follow, dressing comfortably can make it easier to sit at your new home office desk to get work done. This doesn’t mean wearing the same pajamas for five days in a row, but allow yourself the luxury of wearing comfortable pants, shorts, or whatever you’d never be able to wear to the office that doesn’t pinch, gather, poke, or otherwise distract you.
You might not be able to replicate your office or cubicle at home, but you can make your home office a place you want to work. Here at Charlotte Insurance, we’re right there with you, figuring out new routines as we work from home, too. Rest assured though, we’re still here to help you with all your insurance needs and to answer questions.