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Before 2020, working from home seemed to be a niche privilege for certain occupations or an emergency measure for people who can't come into the office for a day. However, with the rise of COVID-19 safety measures and precautions, offices around the world have transitioned to remote working setups. Even as restrictions started to ease in the middle of 2021, employers and employees have found the value of maintaining the home office or a hybrid work environment. They have found that working from home did not decrease a worker's productivity and increased worker satisfaction since it made their lives more flexible.

However, not all home offices are made equal. If a home office is distracting or inefficient, it cannot have the same effects as a well-equipped office. So how can you set up your workplace to operate productively? Here are some tips to set up your home office so that it functions the way you need it to.

Manage the Distractions Home Has to Offer

One of the biggest challenges of working from home is staying on task when you are in the same place that you live. When you’re near snacks, entertainment, and plenty of undone chores, your attention can be pulled in a million different directions. This means that you should set up a working space that is apart from all the visual cues that make you think about other things. For instance, if your office is right across from the laundry room, close the door so that you don't see the chores that are waiting for you.

Clear your working space of any clutter or hobby-related items that can distract you from getting work done. If you love to play the guitar, don't leave your guitar in the office because it can be a temptation to take plenty of music breaks. Though it's perfectly fine to relieve stress during your lunch break or to take some short breaks for yourself, having too many temptations around you can be detrimental to your productivity.

How can you remove distractions while not turning your office upside down? Here are some quick ways to conceal those “time stealers”:

• Install cube storage shelves that can tuck away hobby-related items like gaming device controllers and tablets. This will make sure that they are not in plain sight during your workday.
• Make sure your pets have plenty of playtime and exercise before you start your workday so they are not starved for your attention throughout the day. Cats that love computer screens can be artfully contained in a box that you place next to your monitor.
• If you have small children to mind during your working hours, arrange for a childminder to come to support you during this time. The younger the child, the harder it is to get work done.

Create a Pleasant Atmosphere

Home offices don't just need to be functional, but they should be pleasant to stimulate productivity and creativity. This means that you should decorate mindfully and get the best furniture to keep you comfortable throughout the day. Here are some ideas that can help you create a peaceful office that is made for maximum productivity.

• Upgrade your desk to one with plenty of storage and shelving so that you can have access to writing utensils, books, stationery, and other resources that you need throughout your workday. Having enough surfaces for printers and other technological devices and chargers can also help you stay one step ahead of the day.
• If your current office furniture makes your neck and back hurt after a long day, you need to switch to an ergonomic setup. Upgrades can include but are not limited to:
  • An ergonomic office chair that can adjust in height so that you can achieve the perfect position at your desk.
  • A wedge pillow to support your back while you're sitting in your office chair.
  • If staying active is a challenge, try out using a ball chair to engage your leg and abdominal muscles throughout the day.
  • A wireless mouse and keyboard that is designed to adjust to the natural shape of your hands to reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Make your home office look attractive with a coat of fresh paint, freshly shampooed carpets, or new flooring such as floating laminate tiles, and upgrade your window dressings to let in as much light as possible during the day. These small changes are cost-effective but make a big difference in your overall mood during the day.

Get Storage to Remove any Clutter

While living at home, we go through different seasons where certain items are useful and then go dormant as your needs change. If you are transitioning into a remote office setup, you may suddenly find that the way your home is set up does not function the way you need it for a work-at-home lifestyle. So, if you need to free up space to make an excellent home office, put the unwanted items in storage.

This process can look different depending on the type of layout you have in your home. For instance, if you have a game room in the house that is not frequently used, you can use a storage rental unit to keep your recreational items safely tucked away. Whether it's a pool table, ping pong table, old school arcade room, or a movie room, you can free up space for a home office by removing these items. Then, when your working needs change, get your items back and enjoy your rec room once more.

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