There are many family activities that can hinder the effectiveness of completing work at home such as your kid’s busy schedules, and even family mealtimes. With so much going on in the average household these days, many remote workers are struggling to get things done. However, with the establishment of a dedicated home office (or work area), it is possible to be highly productive while working from home as long as this area is carefully designed and organised. There are several must-haves that any workspace needs in order for an efficient working-environment to be achieved. They are as follows:
Good Lighting
Correct, good and proper lighting must always be incorporated into a home workspace. High work productivity is difficult to achieve with harsh fluorescent bulbs; however if you have to use them it is wise to opt for a bulb that mimics the sun’s light as closely as possible. The best bulbs that mimic the sun’s light are LED bulbs, which happen to also be very energy efficient, as well as cost efficient.
Good lighting is easily achieved by locating your workspace where there are plenty of windows. Natural light helps anyone be more productive when it comes to working, as it helps you stay alert and stay focused. There is even research to show that spending days working in natural light helps you sleep better at night, and there is no doubt that the better you sleep at night, the more productive you are at work.
Acoustics (or Lack Thereof)
It never hurts to improve the sound environment of a workspace at home. If your workspace is located next to a child’s room or busy living area, additional money would be wisely invested to soundproof the workspace thoroughly. Noises can easily distract you from working for long periods of time, even if it’s actually only briefly noisy.
Location, Location, Location
While working at home does have the advantage of being able to stay at home with your family, it is still wise to incorporate a workspace into a part of the home where people do not often visit. If you have a home with more than one level, incorporating the workspace into the floor that is least used is the best choice to significantly increase your productivity.
Another advantageous aspect to incorporate into a workspace is a sign that states when it is ok to come in the room, and more importantly, when it isn’t. There are many times when you may come up with some original ideas or find yourself working extremely productively, but as a child wonders into the room they lose all the momentum that had built up and seriously decreases your ability to work efficiently and effectively.
Invest in Your Desk
When it comes to spending money on a workspace, a desk is one place you can probably afford to skimp on. Money should be focused on a comfortable desk chair and high quality computer screen, as well as a computer that’s good enough to meet any of the compatibility requirements for tasks that need to be accomplished.
Filing cabinets are also a must. While much paperwork can be stored digitally on a computer, there is always the need to print something once and while. When something is printed for work, even if it is being mailed to someone else, a copy of the original should be stored in a filing cabinet. Hanging file cabinets are also a wonderful alternative to filling up floor space with filing cabinets and they are also less likely to get messed with by children.
Connectivity
All workspaces at home should be accessible to the Internet, and if your work activities include making phone calls it only makes sense that phone outlets and sufficient cell phone coverage are available too. Plenty of electrical outlets are a must, of course, as most workspaces will need to hook up printers, phones, computers and other peripheral accessories.
This post was contributed by Tom, a writer at MoneyChoices.com.au whose comparison services span various financial products including home loans, bank accounts and credit cards.
