How to Organize your Home Office

"Plans are nothing; planning is everything." – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Do you find yourself taking the path of freelancing? Congratulations! You are making a great shift to a track that can lead you to bigger success. A lot more doors of opportunities will open for learning and career enhancement. Working from home is now a common working trend that is chosen mostly by working professionals due to the benefits it provides. The shift from office work to working remotely offers the convenience of working from the comfort of home offices  - minus the traffic and lesser pollution. To achieve productive and efficient work results, workers should be aware of some organizing home office ideas.  

In an article published by Forbes.com mentioned that one of the benefits of working includes the reduction of office costs. A part of the article stresses:

“Business leaders are facing a major disruption, but it could also result in big savings when it comes to being able to utilize a reliable telecommuting labor pool. Facility space can be repurposed and maintenance costs can be reduced; essentially, costs associated with providing a workspace for employees can become savings to be redirected into new operations and additional revenue.”

Other advantages mentioned in the same article include having a more flexible schedule, a higher level of productivity, lesser commute, and tax benefits from working at home.

Organizing Home Office Ideas: Effective Tips for You

As previously mentioned, working at home offers a lot of benefits to both employees and employers. However, in every working setup, there can be advantages and downsides. Just like working in company-based offices, working from home can also have challenges.

The real challenge is how to stay productive when you find yourself sitting all day (a practice that may put your health at risk), watching TV, browsing the internet, unhealthy eating habits, frequent desire to take a nap, and promoting improper posture. All these can be avoided by creating a working environment that will encourage you to work efficiently. It should be a place where there are the right tools, furniture, equipment, and supplies that will help the workers to perform their tasks effectively. How can we achieve that? Let’s start with organization tips to make your home office ideal for productive and creative work performance.

#1 Clean and Prepare Your Home - Now

You need to clean your house first before you start preparing for your home office. You do not want to end up working at the same time cleaning because you see an unnecessary thing around your working area.

This will also be the best time to check the area where you plan to make your home office. Make sure it is separate from your bed, dining area, living room, and of course your kitchen area. This working space is for your office - alone. Do not make it your movie room, mini gym, or your lounge area. Your goal is to set up a working zone that invites focus and concentration to finish your task - on time.

#2 Set up Your Standing Desk

The best productivity tip to stay alert and focused while working is the use of a standing desk. The goal is to implement a sit stand workstation and enjoy the benefits such as losing weight (while standing and always on the move), increase productivity, and improved posture in standing. If you love your heart, you better stand. It does not mean standing all day but creating a balance between sitting and standing to work. Adjust the height of your standing desk based on your need and enjoy working without compromising your health.

An ergonomic chair is also a big help as it can provide comfort while sitting in proper posture. You have the option to use your standing desk while working or a laptop stand while standing to work. Always avoid sitting for too long as it can lead to Type II diabetes, the probability of cardiovascular disease, and pain in your neck, shoulders, and back. Always look for balance while working.

#3 Install Apps and Tools

If you are working from home and have a remote team to handle, use tools that can help monitor their progress. There is Skype, Google Hangouts, TeamViewer, and WhatsApp. You can also use Google Docs for shared documents. A PDF reader will come in handy if you need to read and send files to clients and consumers. When you need to delegate your task, you can use Hubstaff and Time Doctor to monitor their time used in doing your projects. Paypal is also a good choice in sending payments to your virtual assistants. Take advantage of technology and use it wisely.

#4 Commit to a specific work schedule

Make sure to follow your to-do list and regular schedule. Discipline yourself to stick to the plans and goals to make sure everything is done accordingly.

#5 Include items on your desks that will make you inspired and motivated

Your home office will be your working haven, thus, it is required to ensure that you have the right accessories to keep yourself inspired and motivated to work. You can include plants in your working table or your family picture frame to remind you that you should always do your best.

Working from home or having your home office becomes a choice now. Some prefer to work from home in three days then report to the office for the remaining days. It can work best for some businesses while it may not be applicable to others.our desks that will make you inspired and motivated

Working from home or having your home office becomes a choice now. Some prefer to work from home in three days then report to the office for the remaining days. It can work best for some businesses while it may not be applicable to others. However, the best best things to consider is to apply proper regulations and include ergonomic equipment for more effective work experience.