These days Americans are busier than ever, and the home office has once again regained a solid standing in the American home. With all the things we have on our plates, it is important that your home office is properly set up so that you can get all the tasks and responsibilities you have, organized and running smoothly.
This office will be used as a permanent home office and therefore the engine of whatever business you’ve got going. It can also be a place to learn, search through degree programs, and educate yourself on a new interest or a new career.
Here are some suggestions on how to get started making your home office a fantastic place to work and study:
Dedicate a space whose sole purpose is for study, business, or both. This can be a corner in a room or an entire room. Ideally, an entire room is best, but since that is not always feasible make sure you can easily maintain and keep the space organized and free from distractions and free from outside noises.
Make the work/study area as comfortable as possible. Pick out furnishings and decor that fit your personal tastes. This will help you keep your focus. Also, be sure to select a desk and chair that you won’t mind sitting at for hours at a time. This is crucial because the longer you sit and work, the more uncomfortable you can become. As an added tip, try to fit select ergonomic furniture into your budget. That will help keep your comfy cozy all day long and lessen the strain on your important sitting muscles.
Keep your area as clean as possible. This is important because you will spend lots of time here. If the area is dusty or covered with debris and garbage, it will sap your desire to work and study there. Additionally, if it is too cluttered, it will distract you from your work. To help you keep the area from collecting junk and debris, always remember to include in the mix a decent-sized shredder and garbage can.
Okay, so those are the “big ideas” that should go into organizing and setting up your home office, but what about the little details? Here are some more tips to help with the most common problems people have when setting up a home office.
Fight the Cable Hydra. Grab a couple of twist ties or a rubberized cable turtle. Either will work to help you organize all of your cables out of your way. Further, if you want to overachieve, take a piece of masking tape and attach it to each cable. You can then label the cables so you know which goes to which device.
Keep both your computer and physical desktop clean and organized. Make sure all your files are neatly tucked away where you can find them at a moment’s notice. This will save you both time and frustration, which will increase your productivity.