Working from home has increased in popularity over the past few years. The global health crisis that began in 2020 prompted organizations to shift to remote workforces and encouraged individuals to launch home-based businesses. Although virtual work environments provide benefits like financial savings, better work-life balance, flexibility, and independence, working from home can cause a decline in productivity.
While there are many reasons for slowed productivity, equipping yourself with the appropriate resources can generate better outcomes. Continue reading for tips.
A Designated WorkSpace
Your home is filled with distractions like kids, pets, and the temptation to turn on the television and lounge can slow productivity. One way to focus on work assignments or business matters is to create a designated workspace. A spare room, attic, basement, or garage could be ideal places to set up shop. If these options aren’t available, consider sectioning off a portion of your living room, dining room, or bedroom.
Office Furniture
Office furniture is commonly overlooked when it comes to productivity. However, the comfort and functionality of a workspace have a direct impact on your ability to perform. For instance, a cluttered or disorganized work environment can cause anxiety and concentration problems and disrupt your workflow. Similarly, old, damaged, or makeshift office furniture can cause discomfort.
Once you’ve identified the ideal workspace, invest in high-quality furniture to improve productivity. A desk, chair, and storage like a low open shelf is a great place to start. You might also consider lamps, filing cabinets, and tablet or laptop stands. Evaluate your business needs and shop for affordable furniture to create the ideal workspace.
Home and Kitchen Appliances
Save yourself the trouble of making regular trips to the kitchen by investing in home and cooking appliances for your home office. A coffee pot, mini-fridge, water dispenser, and microwave ensures you can quench your thirst or resolve your hunger without leaving your workspace. A space heater or fan is also ideal for helping regulate the temperature in your home office.
Technology
You can’t work effectively from home without the appropriate technology. Invest in a computer, laptop, or tablet. Consider accessories such as headphones, power strips, cord organizers, and Bluetooth speakers. Once you’ve gotten the basics, you can look into digital products like social media management tools, customer management software, and cloud-based applications to automate and streamline processes.
If you’re working with a limited budget, you can always opt for used or refurbished technology to save money. Lastly, don’t underestimate the advantages of free software and applications. You can find many options that suit your needs.
Personalization
There’s nothing like a personalized workspace to provide comfort, lift your spirits, foster creativity, enhance focus, and boost productivity. Add character and style to your home office by incorporating aesthetics. Hang artwork on the walls, place family photos on shelves, paint the space an inspiring color, and include other elements like plants, vases, sculptures, and knick-knacks to make your home office more inviting.
As you consider personalizing your workspace, to keep professionalism in mind. If you have clients visit your space or host virtual meetings, some items may not be appropriate. For instance, political memorabilia and violent, sexually suggestive, or controversial items could offend someone or give the wrong impression.
A Healthy Lifestyle
Last but likely, the essential resource for remote workers and home-based business owners is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. When you work from home, it’s easy to overlook daily routines, from eating a well-balanced diet and maintaining personal hygiene to staying active and getting enough sleep.
Develop a routine that allows you to prioritize your well-being. Utilize resources like meal planning, pre-packaged food delivery services, and health and wellness applications to help you stay on track. As you take care of your physical and emotional health, you’ll notice a dramatic improvement in productivity.
Working from home has many advantages; however, slowed productivity is a common setback. If you find that your performance is declining, there are things you can do to achieve better results. Use the tips above to enhance your workspace, improve your well-being, and enhance productivity.