Working from home can be tricky. You’ve got to contend with innumerable distractions, focus on the task in hand, And, ideally, do so without making yourself miserable! Of course, not all workspaces are equally suitable: some make getting the job done difficult, others make it a breeze.
Here, we’ll take a look at some of the little tweaks you can do to make your home workspace as productive and pleasurable as possible. Even taken in isolation, some of them might make an impact on your home work-life. But if you take them all at the same time, this difference really can be transformative.
Tidy up
Keeping your office space tidy will free you from all of those tiny distractions. If your situation is particularly bad, then you might want to start with an intensive decluttering exercise. Pick up every little item in your office and ask yourself whether you really need it. The fewer items occupying your desk, the more space you’ll have in which to think!
Get into good habits
Here’s where some of us struggle. It’s difficult to form the habit of taking a cup back to the kitchen every time you get up to get a new one. But fail to do so, and you’ll have a mountain of crockery sitting on your desk before the end of the day. To keep this problem at bay, it’s important to get into the habit of dealing with mess as it forms.
Block social media
One of the most potent sources of distraction in your work-space comes in the form of the internet. And there are certain all-conquering websites which are designed to distract you as much as possible. That’s where they make their money! Fortunately, there are ways that you can limit your exposure, and that’s by downloading an app for your browser which restricts your access. For Chrome, there’s Blocksite. But other browsers are covered by similar services.
When your attention is divided, you won’t be able to attain the deep levels of focus necessary to do worthwhile work. So, cut off the problem at source!
Get plenty of natural light
Our bodies have adapted to enjoy exposure to natural light. Among the most profound positive effects are those which impact our mental health. Just think about how much better you feel when the sun is shining!
Allowing natural light into your interior will help to ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder, and help you to get to sleep each night. This is particularly important if you’ve going to be staring at a screen for most of the day. A high-quality set of shutters will allow you precise control over light levels, and won’t block out a portion of the light when they’re drawn (in the same way that a set of heavy curtains might).
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