As we move into a new year, you might be finding working from home a little trickier than usual. Whether you’re recovering slowly from the Christmas break, or struggling to work during the shorter days, getting back into the swing of working life requires a more productive working space, that you can easily settle down in each day.
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Tips to Create Productive Work Space at Home
Set out a dedicated space
If you’re a sofa-worker, it’s time to make a change. As well as potentially causing neck and back problems further down the line, working from the sofa can lead to constant distractions.
If you have the space, setting your laptop up within a specific location within your home can help you separate your work and home life. This means you can avoid tempting distractions as far as possible, so you can reach the balance you need to stay focused and productive all week long.
Make sure your temperature is just right
If you’re not comfortable while you’re working from home, you’re going to find it tricky to stay on task. One of the best things you can do to keep up your productivity levels while you’re at home is to make sure your temperature is exactly right for you.
If your heating isn’t up to scratch, it might be time to bleed your radiators. Regularly giving your radiators the TLC they need allows you to focus on your work, rather than worrying about keeping warm and comfortable all day. If your boiler still isn’t heating your home fully even after you’ve bled your radiators, BOXT is there to help, with a wide range of innovative boilers to suit both your needs and your budget.
Pay attention to home comforts
No matter how you feel about the home office, it’s safe to say that working from home comes with certain perks. Whether you’re working from home for the foreseeable future or you’ve set up on a temporary basis, making the most of home comforts will help you enjoy your time working from home in the most cosy of ways.
Fluffy socks, endless cups of tea or your guilty pleasures playlist can all be made the most of at home, so embracing a relaxation of your usual office environment can give you a boost when you need one.
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Embrace natural light
When you have a busy day, it can feel difficult to step away from your screen for much-needed fresh air and sunlight. While you should always work under adequate lighting to make sure your eyes aren’t being strained, one way to stay on track throughout your working day is to make the most of natural light.
If you can, set up your working desk in a room with plenty of light, facing a window if you can. Alongside giving you a nice view to enjoy while you work, getting lots of sunlight and Vitamin D will help you feel restored and refreshed, even on days when you can’t leave your laptop for long.
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Think about your background
As well as looking smart and professional on video calls, keeping your space clean and tidy leaves you free of distractions. This doesn’t have to be a time consuming process; taking a few minutes to straighten out your papers and move any empty mugs and glasses at the end of each day will help your space feel calm and productive the next time you boot up your laptop.
Where possible, try and separate your home life from your working hours. Keeping your laundry basket, charity shop pile and the extra bits and bobs that accumulate over the week out of your working space where possible will help you keep your focus, and save the non-work tasks for your non-working time.
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Get your soundtrack sorted
One of the biggest differences between working from home and the office is the background noise. Love it or hate it, settling down to work without the constant hum of your colleagues can take some getting used to.
To make your home working space feel a little more familiar, make sure to schedule regular calls with your team. As well as breaking up your day, a chat with your colleagues can help you feel more productive by setting a routine to work from.
If you find yourself sitting in silence for longer periods of time, you could consider having a playlist of your favorite podcasts, songs or audiobooks playing in the background. While some of us find excess noise distracting when you’re trying to get your head down, your favorite sounds in the background can help you stay positive and productive as the weeks go by.
