Original Post by Chelsea Mize
When it comes to working from home, your environment can have a marked effect on your ability to be productive. The good news is that you don’t have to be a feng shui master to create a home office that you love. With just a few simple tweaks and some strategic home office shopping, you can create a home office that will keep you both comfortable and productive. If your home office isn’t up to snuff, all you have to do is prioritize these seven home office essentials. Before you know it, your home office will be a Zen haven of productivity and efficiency.
Light the Way
If you’ve spent any amount of time under fluorescent lights, you know that lighting can seriously have an effect on how energized you feel. Studies have shown that exposure to natural light improves workplace performance; having natural light in your home office can make a huge difference in terms of how productive (and energetic) you are. And, as an added bonus, natural light in your workspace conserves energy.
If natural light is hard to come by in your home office space, then look into purchasing a high-quality task light with a yellow-tinted bulb. A light bulb with a warm tone is closer to natural light sources and will be far less harsh than white fluorescent lighting.
Invest in Storage Space
A cluttered office is a distracting office, there’s no doubt about it. And when it comes to cutting down on clutter, investing in space-effective storage solutions is an absolute essential. IKEA offers a number of affordable home office storage solutions and can ensure that you are utilizing every square inch of your home office in the most efficient manner possible.
Have a Technological Backup Plan
One of the best parts of working in a physical office is the tech support. In a home office, you are responsible for solving any technical problems. Your printer goes offline? That’s your responsibility. Your computer suddenly decides it’s not feeling a WiFi connection? Guess who will be on their hands and knees fiddling with the router?
Sometimes though, you will run into technological problems that just can’t be fixed with a quick Google search. Find a local computer support team that makes home service calls in your area. You probably won’t need it often, but when your computer decides to crash right before a deadline, you’ll be glad you have an emergency fallback.
Manage Your Cables
Tangled cables are more than just an eye-sore; they can be incredibly detrimental when it comes time to troubleshoot technical problems. Often, a tech problem can be fixed by simply unplugging and re-starting the gadget. If you can’t locate which wire leads to which electronic, though, you’re going to have a hard time. Cable turtles and binder clips are a great solution for cable management and will also tidy up your workspace almost instantly.
Don’t Skimp on the Décor
The beauty of a home office is that there is far more room (literally and figuratively) for personalization. Punch up your workspace with some color or go crazy with artwork. Use your office as a space to display your carefully-curated collection of porcelain cat figurines. Whatever you do, just make your office space is your own. These personalized touches will transform your home office into an individualized space where you actually enjoy spending your time.
Give Your Workspace the Gift of Life
An easy way to liven up your workspace can be to provide it with physical life. Whether you want to go all-in and furnish your office with a fish friend or go the non-committal route and buy a house plant, a living companion can be a great addition to your office.
Double Up on Monitors
The biggest asset to my productivity during the word day, hands down, is my dual monitor setup. Getting lost in a flood of open tabs and windows can seriously hinder your productivity (and add to your stress levels). Managing large projects gets infinitely easier when you double up on screen space. A second monitor might seem like a pricey investment, but it is an investment that will prove to be well worth your money.
With just a few strategic modifications, you can vastly improve the state of your home office and, with it, the state of your productivity. A home office should bring you comfort, inspire creativity and facilitate easy concentration. Keep these home office essentials in mind and you can create the perfect space to cater to all your remote work needs.
