Create the perfect home office environment

Working from home can be more difficult than in an actual office environment, as you have the extra distractions of housework, telephone calls, children and the temptation of the internet and television. To stay focused on your job, you must make the environment both comfortable and professional.



The first thing you should do is to rid the room or area of anything that is not required for your work, and is not needed in your home office. If your home office is shared by a room with a different function, you should clearly define the home office area.



Organise your office supplies in drawers, cupboards and other organisational tools. If you are organised, you will eliminate the stress of chaos and clutter and increase efficiency as less time will be wasted searching for items.



Consider organising a schedule for yourself. If you organise a schedule, you will be more likely to maintain your usual household responsibilities without being worried about them or forgetting them completely.

Arguably the most important element of an efficient home office is a good chair, and it may be even more important than the desk it accompanies. You should choose a chair carefully and ensure that your individual needs and preferences are satisfied. The most important thing to remember is that you are comfortable enough to work in your home office, but not so comfortable that you forget the purpose of the room, which is to actually work!



Good quality lighting is essential. Your whole working surface should be evenly illuminated, without shadows near your hand. Concealed fluorescent lighting and an extra desk lamp are useful, but ensure that the light source itself is covered and is kept out of your field of view. Use curtains to control screen reflections or bright sunlight, and do not sit facing a screen with bright daylight, such as a window.



Take regular breaks. Muscles need movement, from the tiny muscles which manage your eyes to the big ones which support your back. Get some fresh air and keep yourself fit. Daily exercise will repay you many times in the extra hours of productive work you will be able to do as a result. A brisk walk will suffice.



Consider privacy film. Instead of closing yourself in your office with no view of the outside world, or in this case - your backyard, privacy film can enable you to see your garden while you work, and people cannot see you working in your home office. Privacy film is also energy efficient, shatter proof, and reduces the amount of noise you can hear outside your home, enabling you to work from home in peace and quiet.



Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.