Top Tips for Working in an office at home

I’m currently in a very fortunate position where I can work on my blog from home full-time. Whilst I do spend a few days a week out of office at meetings, shoots and working on different projects, I do have a home office. Working from home might sound like a bed of roses but I found it a hard adjustment to be proactive and not get too distracted. I’m pretty sure I could be crowned the procrastination queen but I’ve been working hard to make sure I get my sh*t together and get my butt in gear. This ship won’t sail itself. I’ve put together a few of my top tips for working in an office at home.

Make a schedule & stick to it!

Every day I make a schedule and try my best to stick to it. I will designate a certain amount of time for each task. Don’t forget to give yourself breaks throughout the day. I’ve got a weekly planner which is from Sainsbury’s (the stationary range there is on point) and I can split up the day and tick off each task as I do them.

Wifi & the right equipment

Working in the right environment is crucial to productivity and the key to this is a comfortable workspace, with everything you need close at hand. Top of the list for anyone working online at home has to be great internet – after all, hardly anything can be done in this day and age without it! Getting this sorted will involve checking out different plans such as hughesnet internet plans and finding the best one for you. You can use sites such as TestMySpeed to make sure you are getting the most out of your internet connection. A quick search online using keywords such as check my speed will help you find the best site to use in your specific area. Once this is done, it’s important to ensure that your home office, or designated office space, has all of the equipment that you need and is tidy and well organized. You don’t want to have to keep getting up and down to find things throughout the day. Lastly, if you are sitting at the computer all day, make sure you have a comfortable chair too.

Set Goals

Along with a schedule, make daily, monthly and even yearly goals. With anything, it’s good to see progress and aim high in whatever you are doing. I have a journal which I keep all my blogging goals in. I like to keep track of stats etc. to see how I’m doing on a monthly basis.

Have a Clean & Tidy Space

I’ve mentioned this 101 times in various posts but I think that a tidy space helps towards a clear mind. Having a Clean and Tidy space will help you so much with getting on with work and a clearer outlook. My office is actually in my bedroom as we don’t have space for a separate office. I do, however, try and keep my office space separate. It also encourages me to keep my bedroom tidy as well as my little office corner. However, if you have the space in your garden perhaps considering prefab sheds as a solution to a clean, tidy, and separate office area would be a great idea. You’d be able to get all your work done at the bottom of the garden!

Get Dressed

Whenever I say that I work from home, I get told that it must be so nice to work from my bed in my PJs. Yeah, that does sound like an ideal situation, but are you really going to be THAT productive?! Whilst staying in my PJs all day sounds like the dream, I can’t tell you how important it is to actually get dressed. I’m not saying get dressed in a formal dress as if you were actually going into the office but make an effort and you’ll feel so much more awake, alive and ready for a day working.

Be Comfortable

Again, I’m not telling you to stay in the comfort of your PJs and Bed but It’s important to invest in a comfortable office chair. You’ll be spending a lot of time in it and the last thing you want is back ache. I’m not going to lie, the chair I’ve got at the moment is pretty pathetic. I’m pretty sure a couple of the bolts have even fallen out!  At first, it was aesthetically pleasing but my back isn’t thanking me for my silly choices. I’m currently on the hunt for a better chair!

Keep Hydrated but Hide the Biscuits!

Working from home means easy access to the kitchen. Stay hydrated and drink lot’s of water throughout the day but try and keep away from unnecessarily snacking throughout the day. I’m quite good with this as I don’t usually reach for snacks anyway. It is, however, quite lethal if I acquire a packet of biscuits. There’s no such thing as eating just one biscuit. Keep the biscuits locked away!

Go Outside

Get some fresh air and actually go outside. It’s so important to actually see the light of day and not keep cooped up in the office. Even if it’s a short trip to the corner shop and getting some human interaction. I also find if I really am struggling with getting any work done, it’s helpful to go to a cafe for a couple of hours. The change of environment can help with generating ideas and get a fresh perspective.

Stay Off Social Media

Staying off social media is easier said than done. It’s such an important tool for sharing content and interacting with everyone. Productivity levels go to an all time high when I’m offline on Facebook and Twitter. Especially when I’m writing up blog posts, it’s so much easier without all the distractions of a new Cosmo articles to read or meme’s to tag friends in.

Stay Safe & Insured

You probably don’t think about Insurance when working from home but it’s important that your Insurance plan actually covers your office equipment. A standard home insurance will most likely already cover your contents but make sure it doesn’t add up above the threshold. There can be many hazards found within an office and even in a home office. Accident Advice Helpline has put together a really informative graphic which points out some common hazards that are found. It’s maybe time to replace my broken chair!

I think one of the key points to being proactive in any work space is having the enthusiasm and mind set to get up and get going! Do you have any tips for working in an office at home?!

XOXO