Source: StockMonkeys.com
Do you work from home? Do you have an office? Or are you writing from your bed while your cat steps all over your computer and, by proxy, your hopes and dreams? Want to turn your home “office” into a professional place of business? Tired of this sounding like an infomercial? Yeah, me too. Let’s move on.
Working from home is very different than working in an office. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you’re in a relaxed environment that allows you to more easily tap into your creative side. On the other hand, there are plenty of potential distractions: TV, Internet, household chores, any pets that demand your attention, kids that won’t shut up, etc. So, what can you do to minimize distractions and enhance your creative flow?
1. Get Your Workspace Under Control
How do you keep your workspace? Is it minimalist, neat, and organized? Or is it a cluttered mess that only you can understand? Is it covered with inspirational knick-knacks? Do you have photos of family and friends? Standing or non-standing? Whatever your preference may be, make your space your own. Since you work from home, you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to completely personalize your workspace. Standing desks are increasingly popular as we’re learning more and more about how sitting all day isn’t really all that healthy. Like at all. Some good products are The Kangaroo Pro Junior, Readydesk, Workez Adjustable Standing Desk, or VariDesk if you’re feeling fancy.
2. Put More Effort Into Your Décor
Source: Flickr
Everything from good lighting to a plant, your office needs to look professional—you’re running a business here! Find some appropriate art, a lovely plant you’ll forget to water, or whatever motivational posters speak to you. And at some point you’ll have to entertain clients. Make them feel comfortable. Have you ever been to a therapist? Of course you have, we all have. Isn’t the furniture all welcoming and comfortable? Make your office like that. There are plenty of local stores you can check out, like Lulu’s Furniture and Décor (2050 W 30th Avenue), Ironwood (14 S Broadway), or Decade (56 S Broadway).
3. Up Your Productivity
The plethora of distractions around you (think video games, inconveniently affectionate cats, the sudden uncharacteristic desire to wash all the dishes, etc.) can make it really difficult to maintain your productivity. So what can you do to shake those diversions and get productive? Writing, reading, art, or exercise are all solid options. One of the better ways is by playing music. Mad Genius Radio (538 E 17th Ave, Suite #200) is a Denver-based Internet radio service that cuts out ads and makes your music experience way awesome.
4. Be More Professional
When you work from home, you’re going to have to find the divide between home life and work life. The right services, the right software, and the right tools will help make your home office feel like work rather than just another room in your house. It’s easier to manage messages and calls from clients if you have a business line service like Grasshopper or Xfinity Voice. When it comes to software, you want top quality products. Microsoft Office Suite is a classic, but other important software to have are OpenOffice, Quicken for financial matters, Skype for conference calls, Google Docs/Drives, Dropbox, and most importantly (really though), backup software. Shadow Protect Desktop is super reliable.
5. Get the Hell Out of the Office
Sometimes you just need to get away from your desk and out into the world. Feeling stuck in an office can be suffocating, but feeling stuck in your home is worse. Because once you clock out from your home office, you’re still in the same building. So it’s important to be able to spend time in a different environment. There are some great coffee shops in Denver; Steam Espresso Bar (1801 S. Pearl Street), Denver Bicycle Café (1308 E. 17th Avenue), and Café Max (2412 E Colfax Avenue) are all great for productivity, networking, and general café enjoyment.
There’s a lot you can do to set up and maintain the ideal workspace. There are certainly some things you should do, like have a good computer, good software, and a good environment. But what ultimately matters is what makes you happy at work. Do you like to clutter your desk with Lego figurines in ever-changing poses? Do you paint or draw on your desk? Are your walls covered in art or completely bare? Sunlight or darkness? Whatever helps you become your best professional you is what you should do with your home office.
by Glenn Krieger
