Pandemic has made working from home a new norm and this culture is definitely here to stay. Working from home is really advantageous for most people because it's far more comfortable. But sometimes it has its own share of disadvantages as well. The most challenging part here is to strike a balance between professional and personal life at home and your home office plays a big part in that. If your home office is unorganized and messy, it makes you feel agitated and lose focus on work. Thus your productivity decreases at an alarming rate. So if you want to stay in the comfort of your home and still stay as productive as you would be in an office, you have to pay attention to organizing your workplace a bit. We are here to help you with that.
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Designate places for everything: Designate a particular place for each kind of item you use while working. Put similar things in one place. Put pens and markers in holders, files in appropriate folders, and important tools in drawers. Keep items you use the most closely and other rarely used items tucked away out of sight. If you designate a place for each kind of item, you are more likely to put them back in their place after using them. You won't spend a ridiculous amount of time finding an important document or a tool in moments of need. This will help you maintain a clutter-free home office.
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Aim for minimalism: The fewer things you have, the less you have to worry about organizing them. That's why always try to be as minimalistic as possible while setting up your home office. Get rid of unnecessary items immediately. Set aside a day each week to take a look at your workplace and discard things that may not have further use any more.
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Leave ample space on the desk: Your desk is the most important part of your office space. That's why it's even more necessary to keep this place clutter-free. Don't put any unnecessary items there and leave as much clear space as possible. Larger desks are preferable to use as you get more space.
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Use baskets and bins: Use baskets and bins to store smaller items that you don't use very often. That way you are saving space and those small things won't create a mess.
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Use subdued wall-paint: Try to use subdued earthy tones as the color palette of the room you are working from. Too bright colors might cause you unnecessary agitation and stress. So it's preferable to choose colors like beige, blue or gray as the wall paint. Such colors are easier on the eyes.
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Hang some decorative pieces on the wall: Yes, your home office should be as clean and minimalistic as possible. But that doesn't mean it has to be completely bereft of any decorations. This room is a place you spend a large amount of time of your day in. So there should be some tasteful decorative pieces here and there that will be pleasing to look at in between constant working. Our advice is to hang some beautiful wall-arts, not too bright so they blend well with the earthy tones of the wall. Opt for something which will evoke a sense of serenity in your mind.
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Make the room soundproof: One of the biggest sources of distraction while working from home is noises from the surroundings. These noises can come from your neighborhood commotion, children playing around the house, or pets demanding attention. So to fully concentrate on the work at hand, you need to make sure that your home office is as soundproof as possible. Install thick doors in your room which can block out outside noise as much as possible. Drape thick curtains over your windows and consider upgrading them to double pane units so they more effectively block noises. Wall-hangings also help to resist sound waves from spreading everywhere.
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Keep incense burners in the room: Calming scents are pretty helpful to soothe an agitated mind. So keeping an incense burner in the home office which diffuses sweet and soothing scents can come in handy when you are dealing with an endless workload.
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Maintain a calming lighting effect in the room: Let as much natural light and air in the room as you can. Natural light is always the best kind of lighting and makes you feel less stuffy. Harsh lights from electric lamps can sometimes cause irritation. So we advise installing some pretty candle-holders in your home office. Mild light emitted from the candles will create a much calming effect on the mind and help you focus.
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Use comfortable furniture: Upgrade the office ergonomics in a way that helps you stay physically comfortable. Use a chair that supports your body's natural curves so you won't get cramps even after sitting there for hours. The desk shouldn't be too high or low. Arrange shelves or cubbies in the room in a way so all regularly used items are always within an arm's reach. Also, you can keep a comfortable couch there as well so you can stretch your body once in a while. To work efficiently for a longer period of time, you need to make your physical comfort one of your priorities.
Yes, organizing and maintaining your workplace at home would demand some of your precious time, effort, and money. But this investment would be very worthwhile because it will help you stay on top of your game while working. You will reap a lot of benefits.