Creating Your Own Home Office + Productivity Tips and Tricks

When it comes to working from home, there are, like many other jobs, both positives and negatives to your role.

Firstly, because you don't physically have to go anywhere, it's easier to set your own working hours, as long as tasks are completed on time you have the luxury of taking a break whenever you like. Secondly, you don't need to worry about any commuting issues, having a meeting overrun or falling behind on paperwork because you couldn't finish a report due to train delays which meant you arrived home late. Working from home also means being your own boss as there's no one there to tell you what you should be doing, or any annoying colleagues that'll distract you from your work. However, at the same time that means you're much more likely to be scheduling Skype conference calls, writing email chains and messaging in the company Whatsapp group because you miss social interaction. Still, if you want to have the radio on, classical music playing or tubs of candy on your desk then you can because it's your office but be warned if you do eat loads of snacks in there it's you who's the company cleaner as well.Studies have shown that employees who work at home are also more productive, tend to work through lunch and finish things quicker than their office counterparts. Mind you, in the same breath people are often far less understanding of home workers, 'but you're at home so you must be free' 'you won't even notice I'm here' or, perhaps the most annoying, 'can you do it as I'm at work'. There's also the constant lure of distractions from books, TV and games to housework and laundry that needs to be done not to mention your kids who could interrupt you at any second. With all these factors in mind, it's crucial that you create a warm, welcoming and personable environment that you feel comfortable working in and an office that suits your individual needs while still feeling like part of your house.  

Make The Most Of The Space

Unlike in commercial offices where companies often have thousands of square feet at their disposal to create unusual cube-style layouts you won't have that luxury. However, don't despair as you can create a lovely, clutter free workspace in even the smallest of rooms. In fact, in the past stressed out New Yorker's living in tiny studio apartments preferred to have their clothes hanging on rails so they could turn their bedroom closets into mini home offices! Typically, a home office will need space for your computer, or laptop, a printer, telephone and some box files. Depending on your tech set up and your line of work you may need several screens and a direct Ethernet internet connection, so it's best to buy a desk big enough to handle all the gear. Look for small, corner desks that hug the wall as much as possible, hang shelves above your head, use planters to store paperwork and have documents on notice boards instead of tables to save as much space as you can.

Keep Things Interesting

This is your professional area where you'll write, edit or plan documents, draw pictures or even calculate spreadsheets. It needs to be functional but not devoid of personality. Pop photos of your family up, hang images of your favourite place or, if you find them helpful, stick cute, inspirational saying and adorable animal cartoons everywhere. Decorate the room in neutral, pleasing tones but then add strong accent colours like pinks, blues and greens.Splash out on stationary and have an array of jewel encrusted pens, hedgehog post it notes and even a cat USB mini fridge. Lay down a patterned rug, add floating shelves, pieces from www.PlumGoose.com/dovetail-furniture or a lovely half bookcase where you can store texts but also cover the top with ornaments. Why not have a pot plant or a row of orchids? Not only do flowers help brighten up a room but studies show that they can increase concentration levels. Do you love science? Get yourself a Newton’s cradle, small globe or even a miniature model of the solar system!

Remove Any Distractions

Obviously, you need your computer for work reasons but if there's any other technology in there, then you need to find it a new home ASAP. Televisions, iPads and games consoles all need to be removed. Don't be tempted to watch 'just one episode' before commencing work because we all know where that leads. The best rule of thumb would be to think about any other workplace, would what you're doing be accepted or frowned upon? If you think you'd be told off sharpish, then don't do it in your home office! When it comes to having children around, particularly if you're doing any weekend work or overtime things can be tricky so plan ahead. Discuss with your partner your schedules and see if they can watch the kids, take them shopping, swimming or even just to the park so you can have some peace and quiet. To be honest how much work you'll get done really depends on their ages, what the weather's like and if they're in good moods.Parents who work from home say that sometimes kids are happy to play elsewhere and other days they want to curl up under your desk. When it comes to younger children, you'll be lucky to have a few hours to yourself, even with a nanny or them in nursery things somehow still become an issue. However, older children and teens are much more likely to leave you alone. Remember, just because you're working doesn't mean you don't care so have an emergency word or signal ready so that you'll drop everything if necessary. Use technology to check in with your family regularly. Text and ask how their day's going, tell them what you've been up to or ask what they would like for dinner.

Think About Your Health

Because you don't need to travel it can be very easy to get used to staying indoors. Remember, we all need plenty of fresh air, exercise and contact with others so make sure you take regular breaks and spend at least three evenings a week doing something fun. Consider your physical health as well, don't work late at night without a powerful light on, keep a bottle of juice or water at your desk and if you feel your eyes straining swap to a non-screen task for a bit. When you're in a traditional office environment, you get both a coffee and a lunch break so try to emulate that at home. Don't skip breakfast either, thinking that you'll have something later - because you're indoors it's neither safe nor smart, as the chances are you'll end up waiting until lunchtime. Make sure your chair and desk height are at the correct level and that your legs, head and back are being supported at all times. Why not considering buying an ergonomic office chair? Choose one upholstered in soft, smooth leather that allows you to work without hunching over, thus putting you at risk of a crick in your neck, sore shoulders and bad posture that can then lead to back problems.

Don’t Overload Your Electricity

While modern workplaces are quite capable of dealing with multiple computers, a whole network of printers and several phone lines for each department domestic houses are different. Check what voltage all your electronics, lamps and other electrical equipment are before you plug them in and, for insurance purposes, it’s best to get them all checked over by an electrician before you use them. Make sure that all your wires are securely tucked away as tripping over a loose, or trailing lead could spell disaster for you and any unsaved work. It may be beneficial to buy a safety plug socket that cuts out when overloaded, and whatever you do never leave anything switched on or plugged in at the mains that could catch fire.Offices have strict health and safety procedures as well as fire drills so while you don’t need to install fire alarms in the home office it may be worthwhile having a carbon monoxide alarm fitted if you don’t already have one. Tell your children that the office is ‘off limits unless I’m in there’ and consider having a child-proof door lock fitted so that the chances of any accidents happening, or mischievous hands scrawling red permanent pen all over your eighty-page technical report are dramatically reduced.Finally, it may be worth buying a separate desk, or floor fan as the room could get quite hot with all those whirring machines. Remember that fans use a lot of electricity, but if you’ve registered yourself as self-employed it’s entirely acceptable to claim excessive water usage, electricity costs, stationery supplies and even ink cartridges as business expenses. If you find your laptop, or computer’s running hot don’t dismiss it as it’s possible for laptops to overheat and explode. Buy yourself a specialist cooling pad for maximum protection. You don’t have sprinklers or fire hydrants here and it is your family home we’re talking about so play it safe!