Although the office is supposed to be a place for productive and efficient work, that isn’t always the case. In fact, sometimes your workplace can turn into one of the least effective locations for getting things done. Creating a productive work space in your home is not that difficult if you plan things properly. Here are a few things that you must keep in mind to make your work space more productive.
Decide on a Working Area
You must ensure that your work space is free of any distractions. This is important, as you will probably be working longer hours at your home office (and the smallest distractions will affect your work). If you do not have a spare room to turn into a work space, you will have to make do with a section in your living room or kitchen. An alcove in either of these rooms can work quite well as a work space if used correctly. However, ensure that you get the required privacy, regardless of where your work space is in the home. Have a door or a partition for your work area if possible.
Learn to Multi-Task
If you really want to be productive, you would have to learn to do multiple tasks at the same time. You must have everything close at hand to help you save time. Using downtime between answering calls and printing documents can help you do a lot more. Keep all frequently required things, such as the printer, phone, coffee-maker etc., close to your desk so that you can use them without wasting any time in movement.
Take Some Time Out
It isn’t healthy to occupy yourself completely with your work all the time. Make sure that you have some time for leisure activities too. You might have to work a little harder, but this will give you more reason to take a break from your work. A break from work does not include surfing the Internet. This can hamper productivity. The best way to take a break is to get away from your work space. Have a CD player or radio for playing soft at work. Classical music helps to improve productivity. Don’t put the music on too loud, as it might distract you.
Unusual Ways to organize your work space
Organize a large portion of your home office with the help of kitchen objects. For example, bowls are great for both general offices supplies and CDs/DVDs. A lunch tray can also make a handy drawer organizer.
Implement the Reproducible Elements of the Locations Where You’re Most Productive
Sometimes we don’t work best in an office because we’re more productive in a coffee shop. And if not a coffee shop, perhaps underneath a tree on a sunny day or in a quiet, solitary room. Whatever the case may be, location makes a difference for everyone in different ways. If you pay attention to your emotional responses to locations when working, you can start to dissect why those locations make you more productive. Doing so gives you an opportunity to identify elements in certain locations that you can reproduce later. You may not always be able to transport yourself to the place you find that you’re most productive, but if your office can feel a little more like that location you can tap into what makes it your favorite place to work.
A well-organized home office is definitely more productive than a cluttered one. Clear all unwanted files, documents, etc. from your desk. If you are busy working, switch on your phone’s answering machine and turn the email alert on your computer off. This will allow you to work without any disturbance.