Creating the perfect workspace at home 

Working at home during a lockdown? Here’s how to make the ultimate home workspace. 

For many, working from home is the dream life; it’s never a mad rush to get out the door, and you don’t have to deal with that one annoying co-worker getting in your workspace. Instead, you get to work in your pyjamas, devour all the snacks you want and even play music out loud without anyone complaining. 

However, working from home poses its own challenges, and for most people, it’s hard to adjust to working in a home environment. It takes a lot more self-control to stop yourself from procrastinating, especially as there are distractions everywhere. 

To ensure you stay focused and keep on track, it’s vital you set up a personal workspace.

Here’s how to create the perfect home workspace, and turn your procrastination into productivity:

Make a space exclusively for work

You may think it’ll be cosy to take conference calls while lying in bed, but you’re sure to end up associating work with sleep and feel less focused. To get into the “at work” mindset, you need to create a space solely for working.

If possible, turn a spare room into a home office. If you don’t have a spare room, you could set up a workstation in your bedroom. 

As long as you physically distance your work from your home life in some way, you’ll be able to get into the “at work” mindset.

Limit distractions

When choosing your workspace location, you need to make sure you’re not going to get distracted. You should avoid setting up your workspace in the kitchen or living room, especially if you live with others, as these areas are always going to get noisy throughout the day. If you can’t avoid this, it’s worth investing in noise-canceling headphones. 

While working, “ban” items that easily distract you. If you can’t help but peek at your phone, switch it off and put it away in a drawer. If you always end up watching YouTube videos, install a software program that can restrict your access to this website during working hours.

You should also resist the temptation to check your social media accounts. A quick look at your Facebook messages can easily turn into an hour-long conversation!

Make sure your workspace is well-lit

Proper lighting when working is crucial. Without it, you’re more likely to strain your eyes and experience headaches. The best light source is natural lighting, so set up your workspace near a window if you can. Natural lighting is also known for being a great mood booster, meaning it will help you feel more energised. 

If you can’t set up your workspace near natural light, opt for an area with warm lighting. Compared to fluorescent lighting, warm lighting is less likely to cause eye strain.

Declutter your home

Most people have clutter lying about their house, but when you’re working at home, clutter can be your worst enemy. According to Psychology Today, being surrounded by clutter not only impacts your ability to concentrate, but it also makes you feel less in control of your life. 

If you haven’t done so already, now is the perfect time to declutter your home and say goodbye to those ornaments collecting dust around the house, and that broken lamp that’s been in your bedroom for years.

Although decluttering may sound like a frustrating nightmare, decluttering your home doesn’t have to be stressful. You can hire a rubbish removal service to handle it from as little as £70. 

Invest in suitable equipment

If it’s your first time working from home, you probably don’t have an ergonomic office chair. While working, you’re going to be sitting for long periods of time, so it’s crucial you invest in a chair that will enable you to work comfortably and maintain good posture. If you don’t have a proper chair, you’ll soon be riddled with back pain which definitely won’t make working enjoyable.

Another thing to consider is storage. To work efficiently, you’ll be needing a filing cabinet for all your paperwork. A filing cabinet will prevent your documents from getting muddled up or misplaced.

It’s also a good idea to keep office essentials, such as paperclips and rubber bands, all together in one container. It’s never fun to spend ages rummaging through every drawer in your house looking for a spare paperclip.

Conclusion

An organised and comfortable home workspace free from distractions will ensure you’ll be able to work productively, and it’ll also make working a lot less stressful!