As millennials in or entering the work force, we value a healthy work-life balance. Flexibility and time are seen as some of the most important benefits of a job—even over health insurance.
Part of this flexibility includes the option to work from home—something that over 92 percent of millennials would prefer. Whether you are an entrepreneur launching a business from home, a parent working part time, or a full-time remote employee, you need to create an appropriate home office space to increase productivity.
How do you create the perfect work space that will facilitate concentration and hard work? These tips and tricks can help the young working professional create the perfect home office space.
1. Figure Out What Works for You
The beauty of working from home is that you get to create your own personal work space and a routine that is suited to your needs, style, and schedule. No more cubicle seating or required clock-in times. But before you begin revamping your home office, ask yourself this question:
What type of environment works for me?
You know yourself better than anyone else, so it only makes sense to design an office space that works for YOU. When decorating, determine if you’d like to use a standing desk or prefer to work from the kitchen table. Decide if you’d like to position your desk to face the window’s open views or if you’d rather face the wall and avoid outside distractions. Consider whether you work better while listening to music or if ambient noise is a better fit. Ask yourself what increases your productivity and energy and design your space according to those needs.
2. Create an Action Plan for Distractions
While working from home has many perks, it’s often easy to get sidetracked. Create an action plan to deal with distractions and stay organized when working from home. Set boundaries and let people know your dedicated office hours. Additionally, consider establishing cues for your roommate, spouse, or other family members. Maybe a closed door means “do not disturb” or certain hours are quiet hours in the home. Whatever your plan is, communicate it to others to make your home office the perfect working space.
3. Paint the Walls a Color You Love
Color is an easy and effective way to boost your mood and productivity. As you will spend at least 40 hours a week in your office, take the time to choose a color that excites you each day. Colors can impact the way you think, behave, and perform, and the right color could have subtle effects on the overall success of your work.
4. Write with Nice Pens
While a Bic will get the job done, a nice pen makes taking notes a little bit better. While you can’t control the office supply purchasing at a brick-and-mortar office, you can control which supplies you stock in your home office. It’s your office, and you get to choose what products you use.
5. Install Automated Lighting
With a growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in use, millennials are increasingly connected to everything on their smart phone or tablet. Use smart technology in your new office by installing smart lights. If you connect these lights to your smartphone, you can change the hue and brightness of your lights while seated at your desk. Home automation features in your home office give you a better range of control over your workspace, ultimately leading to more productivity and progress at the end of the day.
6. Get a Delicious-smelling Candle
Purchase a candle with an aroma you can’t resist. A fresh scent is a great way to feel relaxed and focused throughout the day. Because smell is associated with experience, you can choose a smell that reminds you of a have a happy time in order to boost your mood. While it’s a simple idea, a nice smell could make you more inclined to enjoy your work.
7. Install an Indoor Camera
Do you ever wonder how much time you spend working on legitimate projects versus how much time you spend surfing the internet each day? Consider installing an indoor camera in your home office. At the end of the business day, check the recorded feed and see how you actually spent your time. From the recordings, you can learn when you are most productive, what triggers sidetrack you, and how to avoid distractions in the future. An indoor camera can also come in handy if you want to check in on children or pets throughout the day without having to leave your office.
Creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing home-office will help you increase productivity in your work day and career. Whether you remodel your entire office or add a few small fixtures to your desk, updating your home-office space is the perfect way to stay up-to-date with the other working millennial women.
Featured photo credit: Gabriel Beaudry via unsplash.com
