More and more people are agreeing that working from home is pretty fantastic. Last year, an Indeed survey revealed that 65% of employers believe their employees are more productive when working remotely.
Now that more workplaces are embracing this shift, our homes need to adjust accordingly.
If you’re a business owner or freelancer, you already know how important it is that your home workspace is set up for productivity.
But it’s not just about having the right desk space. There’s a lot to consider when prepping your study, bedroom, living room—or wherever you’re working—for a work-oriented and comfortable experience.
MAKE A PERMANENT WORKSPACE
Working from your bed or your living room couch doesn’t do much for productivity. Build a workspace and maintain it, as you would any other essential room in your home.
A necessary part of this process is investing in good furniture and whatever décor makes the space feel welcome.
Which brings us to our next tip…
STAY ERGONOMIC
When we’re home, we slouch. If we’re used to working at an office, we’ve programmed ourselves to treat the home as a place of relaxation. Invest in a comfortable office chair that promotes good posture. Ergonomic keyboards help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.
KEEP A CLEAN DESK
As we’ve said, it can be easy to get too comfortable at home. Treat your desk just the same as an office space in order to keep yourself in a working frame of mind. Don’t wait until the end of the day; try to get rid of food waste, loose papers, and other junk as it comes.
GO THROUGH YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
Avoid the temptation of crawling out of bed and starting your workday in PJs. Morning routines set you up for success and keep you focused throughout the rest of the day.
Moving to a home office is, more than anything, a state of mind. If you aren’t mentally adjusted to a domestic workspace—which is often a problem when you don’t create clear boundaries between leisure-focused spaces and work-focused spaces—no furniture arrangement in the world can make the right home office.
If you’re moving soon, make home office prep part of your moving checklist.
Here’s one last free tip: a flexible, hands-on moving crew can help make the journey to your new home. Find out what to expect when hiring a moving company for the first time.