Maybe you\u2019re tired of schlepping into the office every day. Or maybe, just maybe, you don\u2019t love your micromanaging boss.<\/p>\n
In an effort to score some more work-life balance (and never have to set eyes on The Micromanager again), you\u2019ve decided to ditch your office job in favor of flexible work \u2014 and freedom.<\/p>\n
But before you can be a productive home-based worker, you\u2019ll need to set up a home office.<\/p>\n
Whether you live in a luxurious condo or a cramped two-bedroom apartment, you can make any space work as a home office. Here\u2019s how to create a home office space with both form and function in mind.<\/p>\n
Choose the best location and get equipped<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, you can work from any location (Starbucks, anyone?), but that doesn\u2019t mean that you should. In order to work from home successfully, you\u2019ll need to have a dedicated base from which to operate. An extra bedroom makes for an ideal office space, but if you don\u2019t have a spare room, you\u2019ll need to get creative with your surroundings. You can use a converted garage or attic if you want to have a completely separate space from the rest of your household.<\/p>\n In a tiny studio apartment? Clear out a closet and use that as your office hub, or section off a corner of your room with dividers to create an office nook. You can really use any space that you have to make a home office, but it should be an area that you dedicate only to work (your bed and your dining room table are not good options).<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve settled on a space, it\u2019s time to get it ready for your remote job. Buy the best computer equipment your budget will allow for; after all, if you use older gear, there\u2019s a good chance that it could break before you even get started. You\u2019ll also need the fastest Internet connection possible in order to work more productively. This is so important that some employers require you to have a specific download speed, for example, 5 mbps, before they\u2019ll let you work remotely.<\/p>\n There are a number of products to consider to maximize your offices functionality: wireless mouse and keyboard, dual monitors and even rechargeable batteries for those wireless devices.<\/p>\n Automate your office and find multipurpose products<\/strong><\/p>\n If there\u2019s something that can be automated in your home office, take advantage of it. Save yourself a few seconds and some brain clutter every morning by choosing multiple tabs to open automatically when you start your favorite Internet browser in the morning. Whether you useChrome, Firefox, Safari or something else, check out the tools or settings, and set your browser to automatically open tabs to the sites you use first thing every day. Most people choose things like email and calendars.<\/p>\n Also, task your computer with reminding you to get up and move around. Home offices are notorious for encouraging you to sit down most of the day, but apps like Time Out for Mac andWorkrave for PC give reminders to move, stretch and take breaks to help you avoid overwork.<\/p>\n When it comes to furnishing your office, you want it to be stylish, not sterile. So pick products that can do double-duty and allow your home office to match the rest of your home. Pretty vases can hold pens and pencils, and woven baskets can hold file folders. And if your home office is low on square footage, look to your walls for a solution by adding shelving to create more storage.<\/p>\n Find the view<\/strong><\/p>\n Be sure to orient your desk in a direction that maximizes your daily enjoyment while keeping you productive. If your home office happens to look out onto picturesque scenery, facing the window may be your best bet. But if you\u2019ll be distracted by a busy street or your neighbor\u2019s apartment window, face your desk so you\u2019re looking into your own office. You have much more control over what you\u2019re staring at \u2014 and potentially distracted by \u2014 when you\u2019re facing in rather than out.<\/p>\n If you simply must know what\u2019s happening outside your home, consider using the free Nextdoorapp to stay in touch with your neighbors without being distracted by them all day long.<\/p>\n Anticipate your distractions<\/strong><\/p>\n For many at-home workers, the lure of an ever-present, well-stocked kitchen just down the hall is too much to resist. If you think you\u2019ll be popping out of the office to find snacks too often, consider stocking a drawer in your desk with quick-fix food items. The less time you spend outside of your office, the more you\u2019ll get done.<\/p>\n Another rule for many remote workers is to keep your office door shut \u2014 if you do have an office door, that is. Creating a physical barrier between you and the rest of your distracting home means you\u2019ll have to think twice every time you want to leave your office space. As it turns out, that laundry, vacuuming, cookie baking and TV show marathon can wait.<\/p>\n Think of the easiest (and least expensive) solution first<\/strong><\/p>\n Your home office exists so you can make money, not spend it. All sorts of little things can break or stop functioning the way they once did, but spending more money on your home office isn\u2019t always the best approach. If you must buy something, check out second-hand shops and reuse stores before buying new.<\/p>\n Working from home can make you a happier, more productive professional \u2014 provided you set yourself up for success with a functional home office. Take time to set the stage for yourself and you\u2019ll cross more things off your to-do list and find better work-life balance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source:\u00a0mashable.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Maybe you\u2019re tired of schlepping into the office every day. Or maybe, just maybe, you don\u2019t love your micromanaging boss. In an effort to score some more work-life balance (and never have to set eyes on The Micromanager again), you\u2019ve decided to ditch your office job in favor of flexible work \u2014 and freedom. 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