Is your home office offering you more convenience than productivity? It can be hard to stay focused in a home office because all of the other errands and chores you need to accomplish in the same space. One way to keep yourself on track, though, is to create a space that sparks productivity. Here are a few ideas to consider when your home office needs a refresh.
Create a system for success
Visual reminders of the work you have to complete can be a major game changer when it comes to productivity. A simple desk or wall calendar that clearly articulates the day’s goals and responsibilities is just one such system. Other people find success adding a simple white board to the wall to keep a visual to-do list of tasks to complete. Beyond that, you may even use sticky notes on your desk, allowing you to visualize and reorder your priorities as the day progresses.
Add artwork
If your home office is nothing other than a small guest room with a desk and a lamp, it’s no wonder why you don’t get anything done. It’s important to create a space that you enjoy being in, otherwise you won’t get any work accomplished. Adding artwork is one such tactic to consider. You can even go the extra mile and create a custom canvas print of a meaningful person or place you have visited in your life. Surrounding yourself with positive memories can help you stay productive as you consider the other aspects of your life that your work enables you to enjoy.
Adopt some green friends
A Norweigian study found that desk flowers and plants improved workers’ attention rates and focus. Adding some plants to your desk is thus a simple and efficient way to boost your productivity with minimal effort. Watering and caring for plants has a variety of other mental health benefits, too, so there are many reasons to consider adding plants to your office beyond becoming a more productive worker.
Make lighting a priority
Just like plants, lighting has also been shown to make a big difference in workers’ productivity. With almost 70 percent of workers in the country complaining about the quality of light in their offices, the fact that your home office offers you true control over your lighting is something that should be thoughtfully considered. It’s important to think about how to orient your workplace to face windows in your home office, too, since natural light has an even bigger role to play in mood than it does in productivity.
Include storage to stay organized
One major aspect of productivity is knowing where everything you need to perform your job is located. Organization and storage play a critical role in this aspect of your work. Make sure you create a filing system for organizing documents and papers that you may need throughout your workweek, and store important items in an easy-to-find location. Some desks even have built in storage solutions that go beyond a simple drawer and can be well worth the investment. Don’t forget to stay organized in your digital workspace, too. Digital clutter can be a major time sink, cutting down your productivity in particularly detrimental ways.
If your productivity is suffering, sprucing up your home office can be the first step in making a positive change in your work life. From filling your workspace with tools that keep you organized to finding ways to add design that keeps you focused and boosts your attentiveness, there are plenty of things to choose from to make your office a better place to work. Follow any of the tips featured here and you’re sure to reinvigorate your work life in no time.
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