Yesterday I was talking a bit about how to find the times of the day when your kids are occupied that will allow you concentrated working time. But if you don’t actually separate yourself from the family or step away from the other chaos in your home, you may still not end up getting a even a little bit of work done. The unfinished laundry draws you in, the sewing project you’ve been wanting to do for months and so on.
So having a designated working space that you go to in order to get work done will often help you to be more efficient and productive. I love using my laptop on the couch as much as the next girl, but I also have found that I am considerably less productive when I’m working that way. Oftentimes, the TV ends up being on…and it doesn’t matter what it is that is on TV; it’s going to suck me in. I just don’t do well with that type of distraction around me. Having the radio on, on the other hand, is extremely helpful. You just have to find what works best for you.
Doors are your friends.
Whether your kids are off playing in another room or your husband is entertaining them while they prepare dinner, there are times when a door is absolutely necessary to have. If you need to make phone calls or just hear yourself think, a door will allow you to put some space between you and the rest of the world. You may even need to implement a closed door policy: If mom is working and just cannot be bothered, she will close the door and you must respect that privacy. Think of that door as your portal to an office outside of your home. Because no one would just be able to come strolling in there either.
Have a desk and keep it tidy.
You may think that stealing off to your bedroom or another room in the house will suffice…but you really will be more productive if you have a space all your own to work at. When you sit down there, you mind will switch to work mode and the ideas begin to flow. And if you keep all the clutter from building up all over it, you will also remain more motivated and creative — plus you can enjoy sitting there more if you aren’t faced with a pile of junk in front of your keyboard that has to be sifted through each time you sit down.
If there’s no other way, at least sit at a table of some sort with your laptop versus on the bed or a chair. During the summer, I sometimes take my laptop outside to our patio and Mack plays by herself while I work. It’s a great way to break out of your usual mold but certainly not something I can do all the time (unless we move to Florida lol).
Weed out the distractions
If your office will be a shared spaced with your crafting room or a playroom, you may find yourself getting very easily sidetracked…and before you know it, you’re knee deep in a pile of toys you just HAVE to declutter at this very moment (instead of finishing that blog post). Surround your working space with things related to the job you’re doing and anything else that you think might help you focus. It’s ok to have something around to remind you to take a quick break and stretch your legs, but you don’t want to end up forgetting the work you’re supposed to be doing every time you glance over your shoulder.
This also applies to your browser and desktop. If you absolutely find that you cannot manage to stay off Facebook or Twitter when you’re supposed to be working, check out the Strict Promodoro app for Google Chrome which will shut you off from sites like this during working blocks (you get 5 minutes of break for every 25 minutes you work).
Keep the space happy & light
Whatever your style is, let it shine through in your office. I’ve totally not managed to do much of this in my home office but I do have ideas for how to achieve it one day. But at the very least, you office need to have decent lighting and a supportive chair. I have a window over to my side and I love the natural light that comes in. But I also still have overhead lighting and a small lamp on my desk for darker days. You don’t want to be sitting in the dark with a glowing screen in front of you all the time. And you also want a chair that will keep you from slumping over while you work so that you’re not looking like Quasimodo when you stand up at the end of your “shift.”
What are some of the things you have in your own home office?
If you need some visual inspiration for your home office, head over to Apartment Therapy.
Hidden closet office that is out of the way and still fully functional (Apartment Therapy)
