How we work is continuing to evolve which means more professionals are embracing the work-from-home lifestyle. It’s a good idea to set up a productive workspace at home that is separate. It doesn’t have to be disconnected from the rest of your living space it’s simply an area that means business and helps get you into that mindset so you can be productive. Below are six tips that can help you create a productive work-from-home workspace with an efficient environment that minimizes distractions and supports effective time management.

1. Optimize Lighting and Noise Levels

Make sure there is enough light in your space, whether it’s natural light or artificial. Having the right lighting in your workspace can really impact your mood and well being. Try to maintain a balance of natural and artificial light to reduce eye strain and maintain focus. Look for quiet spots in your living space and pick a workspace in an area that gets little to no noise. You can also keep the noise level to a minimum by using noise-canceling headphones or soundproofing your workspace a bit (think a divider or sound proofing materials).

2. Organize Your Workspace and Computer

A productive work-from-home workspace that is organized is so important in maintaining focus and keeping up efficiency. Consider, investing in some affordable organizational tools to keep your space functional. File cabinets, shelves, desk organizers, and storage containers can all be found at dollar stores too! You can even customize them if you’d like to personalize your space. While you are organizing your workspace consider also cleaning up and optimizing your computer’s desktop files as well. Desktop organization is equally as important. Makes you are using clear file naming systems and that you’re creating folders for different projects so that it’s easy to quickly access important documents. Pro Tip: Consider creating a pending folder so that you can keep track of items/projects that are in progress.

3. Set Up a Daily Agenda with Google Calendar

Try syncing your Google Calendar with your email and receive daily agenda notifications to stay on top of your tasks. This will help you plan your day effectively, ensuring you prioritize important tasks and meetings first thing when you sit down. There’s nothing like setting yourself up for success. Here’s a cool tutorial on how to set up a daily agenda with Google Calendar.

4. Use Comfortable Office Furniture

Your office furniture doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. There are so many wonderful resale shops and thrifting opportunities to find unique furniture with personality. One very important focus that should come before aesthetics is the comfort. Make sure you really think about how you feel in the furniture you buy. If you want to chance it and buy some furniture you’ve never tried make sure to triple check the return policy and do a decent dive into researching reviews. In order to achieve a productive work-from-home solution, you need to make sure you select an office chair and desk designed for extended use.

5. Create a Pet-Friendly Area

If you have pets, including pet-friendly corners or items in your workspace might be worth considering in order to ensure a productive work-from-home experience as a pet parent. Having those items could potentially keep your furry babies entertained and comfy. Think about where they might go if they find themselves in your workspace. Ensure they have a designated space to relax while you work.

6. Keep Essential Items Within Reach

Make sure all your essentials like: chargers, notepads, your phone, any extra lighting for videos, and even an extra professional shirt for meetings, are within reach. Having your essentials easily accessible will help minimize distractions if you’re ever running late or have to navigate a last minute change. This way you’ll be prepared for any work-related situation.

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