The home office is a professional oasis. It sets your work away from play and tells your body (and sometimes your family) that it’s time to get down to business.
The creation of a home office can be a beautiful, amazing, but all too often, a stressful thing. But it doesn’t have to be. Let’s take some time to discuss the creation of a home office so we can get you to work.
A home office, much like an office in any other building should be neat, tidy, organized, and easy to navigate. It sets the tone and mood of your entire work day.
There are many ways of staying organized, but the key point to remember is, this is YOU. This is your space. This is an extension of who you are where you want your life to go.
Yes, it is that serious. 94% of entrepreneurs that work from home have a dedicated home office environment. Of that 94%, only 18% actually treat their home office like a real office.
With that being said, the most successful home workers have organized, production optimized home offices. Take yourself and your business seriously. Be in that 18%!
Where to begin?
Well, a desk would be great! It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and it doesn’t have to be a nice floating desk like the one above either. Just a table like area dedicated to only business.
For some, it’s the kitchen table or a small desk in the corner of the living room. For others, they use their spare bedroom or dedicated office room.
It really doesn’t matter. Each person and situation is different. The important thing is that you pick a desk location for which you WILL be able to concentrate and conduct work.
Filing Cabinets Anyone??
A bit of an eyesore but that doesn’t mean you don’t need one. If your business requires you to keep track of original documents or anything else you may need to file, then a filing cabinet you shall need!
It’s okay to get creative and make it your own. Use stickers or perhaps a nice potted plant resting on top.
In the event you chose to op out of a cabinet, you can always go for a fairly cheap bookshelf. For those on a budget, thrift shops can be a veritable treasure trove. Just remember: neat, tidy and organized with a system that YOU can follow.
Next is lighting
Natural lighting is an absolute. A small, cheap lamp can be wonderful for illuminating those hard to reach dark corners of your desk, but try to put in as much natural lighting as you can.
Windows, skylights, even glass doors can not only be a life (and eye) saver, but can also serve as a pleasant distraction if and when things get to be a bit much. And don’t forget, natural lighting is good for the skin and keeping your energy up!
Finally, now that you can see, let’s focus on some of your other senses. What do you feel? Smell? Touch? Is it quiet enough to concentrate? Are you comfortable?
Remember, this is you. This is your space. Does it need a nice candle in the center of the room? Do you need perhaps a futon to do some deep…deep thinking in when things get a bit much and you’re feeling a lack of sleep creeping in?
There are very little rules to having a home office, and you should feel free to experiment. Some may find a candle distracting, while others may find it just soothing enough to get every task they need done in a day.
Whatever you decide to do, just make sure it’s conducive to a working environment. Be honest with yourself. Daily distractions like internet videos and online games can be fun, but may not keep you and your most productive. Instead,
keep your space light, but professional. Remember your goals. Remember who and what you want to be.
Now… what about all those wires?
For the most part, professionals like to keep all wires organized and out of the way. Power strips will be your best friend!
Use zip ties to keep the cords short and even label them so they don’t get mixed up. Or, you could color code your zip ties.
I had a friend that color coded his zip ties and he now swears by it! Helped save him hours when having to move or change out equipment.
Speaking of equipment, a computer may not be all that you’ll need. Most people are moving to online faxes but printers are usually a must have.
Even in this modern age of digital transfers, more often than not you’re going to need a hard copy of certain paperwork.
Over all, your space is just that. Your space. Your office is you. It reflex you. Shows who you are as a professional and a person. You should feel at home, even if it is home, and anyone who enters should get the same sense of pride that you’ve put into it.
This is your home. This is your office. This is your life. Live it.
– John
A Work at Home Jobs
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