In the last few years, home offices have become quite the buzzword. Because of the pandemic or for personal reasons, more and more people switch to work from home every day. If you’re giving it a thought, then you definitely need tips on how to organize your future home office. You can’t expect to work from your bed or couch and be as productive as you were while working in an office. But, if you set up your workstation in the right way, then you can do more in much less time and even clock out early. Here is everything you need to know about home office organization.
Use a Wall Calendar
Do you like to use calendar apps on your smartphone or laptop? Most remote employees do because it helps them organize their workload. Also, it reminds them of important events in their life. When the reminder pops up and you’re busy, swiping the notification away is so easy. Later, you forget all about the reminder. Why not use a wall calendar instead? This way you’ll keep a close eye on plans and events. Furthermore, calendars look decorative on the wall. You can be creative too. Play around with its design, colorful sticky notes, and erasable pens.
Keep the PC Organized
Your laptop or PC is the most important tool for remote work. Like the workstation, you have to keep it organized to be productive. Chances are your desktop is full of shortcuts, files, and icons. Keep only those you use every day. Then, organize your files and documents by giving them a descriptive name. Make sure to store all files from the same project in one folder. It’ll make it easier for you to search for it later. Also, empty your Recycle Bin and run a cleaning program to get rid of unnecessary files. To speed up your web browser, close unused web pages, and leave the most often used website. So, you can jump right to work when you open the browser.
Set up Your Workstation
To work remotely, all you need is a laptop and the Internet. But, to feel comfortable while working, you need a few other things as well. First of all, you need to set up a workstation. You can set it up in a walk-in closet, hallway, or an unused room. The place itself doesn’t matter as long as it’s quiet and convenient. Next, you need an ergonomic chair since you’ll be sitting most of the time and a work desk. The desk doesn’t have to be a traditional one. Nowadays, you can try a standing or height adjustable desk and improve your posture.
Add Some Plants
If you set up the home office in a walk-in closet or hallway, there might not be enough light or fresh air. Without them, you won’t feel in the mood for work which will affect your work performance. To brighten up the room, you can add a plant or two. The snake plant, Bamboo palms, or English Ivy are some of the most resilient plants. They require low to medium light and sparse watering to thrive. Not only do they purify the air, but also liven up your space.
Hide Cables and Cords
You have decluttered the workstation and the laptop, but the cables are all around the room. Cords from the chargers, printer, laptop, lamp, etc. The place looks as disorganized as ever. To get this problem under control, you can use several solutions. For example, cable ties are great for longer cables and cords. As for chargers and power strips, baskets or boxes hide them well and keep them accessible at all times.
Personalize the Space
Working from home is the perfect chance to personalize and improve your home office. Making the place your own will give you the comfort and inspiration you need to achieve great professional results. For instance, you can put up wall posters or add photos of your loved ones. Also, you might add some shelves and keep memorabilia as decoration and reminders of friends and family. While personalizing or decorating the place, make sure not to overdo it. Avoid cluttering because it’s still a workplace that needs to stay organized for greater productivity.
Conclusion
Home offices have been popular for a few years now. Everyone wants to switch traditional workplaces for home offices. Only a few know that the key to productive work from home is an organized workstation. If you follow our tips, you’ll be able to keep your home office organized and your work efficiency high.
Author bio:
Jess Cooper is a part-time journalist and blogger based in Sydney, Australia. She is an energetic, creative highly motivated person with plenty of interests. The most prominent areas of interest include makeup and cosmetics, fashion, style, event organization and decoration, healthy food, fitness, learning languages as well as home improvement. Jess loves learning about new things and having the chance to combine those insights with her ideas and spread them to the world. She enjoys having a mindful and well-organized, healthy life, filled with all kinds of different activities and interwoven with close friendships.