7 Tips for a More Productive and Inspirational Home Office

For many of us, our home office is an essential part of the way we do our day to day business, so having a productive, motivational, and inspirational space has a direct impact on the fruits of our labor.  How well does your home office work? Take a look at these tips.  Some small changes make make a big difference!

1. The 2 keys to location. Choosing the right room for your home office is vital.  First, it should be a large enough space.  You will not enjoy being stuck in a small closet and that will actually push you away from your work – making you less productive and inspired.  Enough space will make you feel comfortable, and give you the room to spread out your work instead of hiding it under stacks.  Secondly, choose a space that is away from distractions.  (A door is required!)  You don’t want to feel locked away in a dungeon, but you do need to be able to close out the family during crunch time.

2. Choose office furniture with style and function – especially if you ever entertain clients there.  You’ll need your home office to look like a successful professional works there – not a part-time beginner or as it were an afterthought.  (See the design inspiration links at the bottom of this blog).  And don’t forget about your office chair! Get a chair that promotes good posture and supports your back for those long days and nights – while still looking good.

3. Keep your work space workable. Your desktop should be clear of clutter and limited to only things like your computer, phone and notes. Look for simplified storage solutions so that you can get organized easily. When organization goes, you waste time looking for things and are less productive or you procrastinate and procrastination overflows.

4. Start your day off bright with good lighting. Exposure to both natural light and artificial light boosts energy and elevates your mood, so both are important for creating a productive space.  Open the curtains or blinds and test different fixtures, bulbs and arrangements to be sure you have enough good lighting for your desk and reading spaces.

5.  Add inspiration!  While simplification helps with productive organization, passion and inspiration drive us to succeed.  Think about your goals and the things that inspire you to attain them.  Add reminders to your home office –  things like photos of your family, awards, cards or notes from clients, a meaningful quote, or another image that helps you actually visualize your goal.  Does music inspire you?  Put in some speakers and or put in some ear buds and get your groove on!

6. Invest in the right technology.  Your mobile devices, your computer, your printer, and other office equipment are a core part of your business. The quickest way to lose motivation and get pulled away from the job at hand is to spend more time troubleshooting your equipment than actually using it.  Invest wisely in the hardware and software that will not only meet your needs today, but will allow you to grow tomorrow.   Stay on top of updates and upgrade as your budget permits.

7. Reduce the opportunity for distractions.  Each time you step away from your work, it takes more time to become re-engaged when you get back to the task at hand.  Thirsty or hungry? Keep a water cooler or small refrigerator with cold drinks and a few packs of nuts or trail mix in your drawer so you won’t make trips to the kitchen and become engaged in family activities and get off track.  Schedule breaks between tasks – not in the middle of them.

There are lots of great advantages of working from home and many find they are more productive there.  Creating your perfect home office  and making it a motivating environment takes thought and strategy, but will your home work better and  you more successful!