Optimizing Your Surroundings for Productivity
Working from home presents many challenges (and perks!) that an office does not. One pretty common challenge individuals face is with their productivity. It can be all too easy to procrastinate without your boss nearby or if you feel too laid back at home. However, as we all know a little too well, breaking the procrastination cycle can be extremely tricky and requires constant effort to remain focused and on track.
If you find yourself constantly stressed out and behind on work or school, then it might be time for a change of scenery. Optimizing your surroundings to help you be more productive is a simple, effective way to make sure that you can starting hitting those important deadlines — and with a lot less stress.
Nipping It in the Bud
Traditional working structures have been evolving over the years and, as the experts at Fiscal Tiger put it, “remote working is more popular than it has ever been and more companies are starting to open their doors to remote workers each and every day.” If you’re one of the many who has committed to working from home, then it’s definitely worth investing a bit of money into your office’s set up.
By mimicking the look and feel of an office space, you’ll feel less tempted to sit on the couch with your favorite TV show on as you “work.” Setting up a desk big enough for all of your work-related supplies and technology, finding a comfortable office chair, and investing in some extra desk amenities, like a second monitor, a nice keyboard, and even a mouse can all help transform your home space into a designated, professional office space. Then, when you enter this particular area to work, it’ll signal to your brain that it’s time to get down to business.
It’s also a great way to store all your work necessities in one location and keep them from ending up all over the house, which means less time wasted searching for them. And don’t forget about the in-office perks either! Keeping your favorite coffee, tea, and snacks on hand can also help replicate the feeling of being in an office and keep you focused — and well caffeinated, if that’s your thing. It’s also worth decorating your desk with pictures, plants, and trinkets like you would if you were in an office. It may not boost productivity, but it’ll personalize your desk and improve your mood while you’re working.
Personalizing for Productivity
There are many elements in our environment that can help or hinder productivity. Making sure your surroundings encourage productivity might just be the solution your workflow needs.
For example, you’ll want to establish what kind of environment you work best in — are you going to be tempted to clean while on the clock if there are a pile of dishes in the sink? Or laundry piling up? If your chores are going to distract you throughout the day, it’d be worth organizing your life weekly and checking everything off your list before work starts.
Additionally, tweaking your office space to have the right lighting, temperature, and even smells can seriously boost productivity. If you work early mornings or late nights, consider investing in a desk lamp (especially if you suffer with seasonal affective disorder) or open your blinds to bring in some natural light during the afternoons. Being able to adjust your lighting to best suit your needs is crucial, so consider setting up your office somewhere you can have better control over the lighting.
Furthermore, it’ll be hard to concentrate if you’re turning into a human popsicle in front of your desk or just the opposite. It can seem simple, but turning on the AC or wrapping up in a blanket can help retain your focus. Also, there are certain essential oils that can help with productivity, stress relief, and help improve your mood. Trying using:
- Peppermint: to boost energy.
- Lavender: for stress relief.
- Sandalwood: to calm nerves and help with focus.
- Bergamot: to reduce stress.
- Rose: to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
- Lemon: to improve mood and aid headaches.
Set up a diffuser near your office space and reap the benefits of some aromatherapy or even burn your favorite candle; both can help create an environment you feel more comfortable in. If you feel more comfortable in your office space, you’ll find it easier to spend time there, meaning you can stay on track with your work.
Tools for You
Being productive often requires staying in communication with clients, employees, co-workers, and of course, your boss. However, communication operates much differently when working from home. Remote work means a lot less face-to-face interactions and more phone/video calls, emails, and instant messages, which can present different challenges when trying to get a point across effectively (but not too harshly). Having the right kind of tools can help you have better communication with your work and will definitely be a necessity to keep your productivity running efficiently.
Noise canceling headphones are a great idea for video and conferences calls, helping to ensure you don’t mishear any important instructions or decisions. Investing time to learn and understand online tools such as GoToMeeting can help with web conferences and keep everyone on the same page. Additionally, having high-speed internet can also help answer those burning questions that pop up, quickly. There are plenty of other tools available to make working from home easier and more efficient for numerous fields of work. Experiment with what works best for you and your job and you’ll likely be surprised at how you ever lived without them.
Working from home can be a tricky formula to perfect — but not impossible! There are so many tips and tricks to borrow and try out in your own work space. Of course, optimizing your surroundings for productivity might require some trial and error, but it’ll be worth it in the end by getting you back on track and stressing less. Good luck!
