Home offices are vital to have, especially if you have a big family that LOVES to annoy you while you’re sitting in the living room trying to get productive work done.
It just doesn’t work and will always stress you out more.
Having a home office is something that’s going to keep you ahead of the game and ultimately help you get that all-important work completed.
Besides your office, you are going to need the essentials, and that is what we want to talk about today.
From the chair you sit in all the way to the decor you plan on putting in your office.
Your Office Desk And Location
It’s not just about having an office anywhere in the house where you can hear all the kids yelling and/or fighting.
There are better ways to go about finding a suitable location, and here’s how:
Choose Your Home Office Room Wisely
It is best to choose an office where there are hardly any distractions, and your worst choice will be near kitchens, living rooms, and game rooms.
Your best choice is near the other end of the house where the bedrooms are located.
Choosing the quietest room in your house is key.
Use Natural Light Source
Natural light has been proven to increase productivity in your work AND increase your mood.
You will gain the best possible results by placing your office desk near a window.
And don’t forget how much money you spend on your electric bill, as those prices are only going higher.
I know, it sucks, and that is why you should always try to use that free light source, which we know as the sun.
The All-Important Office Essentials
Office essentials are a must.
You need them to work, and it’s just part of what comes with a home office.
There is a ton to cover, so let’s go over some of them for now, and I will add them to this list as often as possible.
Laptop Computer
You can’t get much work done without a laptop computer.
It’s the 21st century now, and laptops are becoming more and more useful every day, and they show no signs of slowing down.
You DO NOT need a high-powered, expensive laptop for your office work.
Anything with a widescreen and capable of completing your office tasks is all you need.
A fast laptop is only needed for gaming IMO, and I would say most updated laptop computers are fast enough for home office tasks anyway.
Not only do you get to finish all your tasks with the laptop computer, but you also get to take it out anywhere you go.
If you have too many distractions at home (visitors, extra kids), take your laptop down to the local coffee shop and work there instead.
External Hard Drive
Sometimes (or most of the time) you just can’t take your laptop to your job, for obvious reasons. However if you have important files that you need to show your boss or colleague, this is where I can see an external hard drive coming in handy.
The Correct Keyboard
An uncomfortable keyboard is a real burden on your workflow, like I keep saying – the fewer distractions the easier work will be completed. A comfortable keyboard is essential to get productive work done, stop using the factory laptop keyboard and by yourself one that’s actually going to be good enough for your daily work load.
A Comfortable Mouse
A good, comfortable mouse is just as important as having a decent keyboard. A good mouse will fit perfectly in your hand, while a mouse that’s too small or too large will just be a complete annoyance, not just for you but your work production will be effected as well.
Headset
Not only are these VoIP items good for expanding your network with potential clients (if you’re an avid user of Skype, which you should be), but also a great choice for keeping in touch with friends and family that you don’t really see often. Only recommended for personal use AFTER you have completed your daily tasks,
To-Do List
A to-do list is great for knowing what you need to get done, for best results, check each option off as you complete it. There’s a couple of ways you can take full advantage of this valuable idea, write down your entire weeks tasks at the start of the week, or you can simply write down your daily tasks when you first walk into your office for the day.
Remember to cut out all distractions (social medias, YouTube, and internet surfing!)
Pencil Cup
How are you going to write down everything you need completed without the help of a pencil cup and other basic office supplies (pens, erasers, highlighters, sticky notes). Sometimes you will need to write down notes for your boss or colleagues and without a pen, pencil or piece of paper handy – you’re going to be wasting valuable work time by leaving your office and searching for a pen or paper.
Make it easier on yourself, have these items at-the-ready, and in your office at all times!
Calendar
I know you might not think this is actually that important, however having your entire month jotted down right in front of you is going to exponentially help you get those tasks done a lot more efficiently than JUST relying on digital calendars and pop up reminders. Seeing your deadline in black and white, right in front of you, for the entire month, is going to be so much easier for you to get the work completed.
Inspiration
What’s more motivational than seeing exactly what you work hard for, sitting right in front of you? I don’t know about you, but a family photo gets me fired up! Having a photo of your family sitting right there can work wonders, it doesn’t seem necessary yet, but having some sort of inspiration to look at when you don’t feel your best for the day, will ultimately make your office time so much more easier.
Conclusion
Home offices are probably one of the most important rooms in your house (if it’s been used of course). Without having the ability to get valuable work load finished on time and efficiently, your life is going to be much more stressful and harder than it should be.
Just remember that your office and your equipment is for you and you only. I encourage you to personalize it however you want.
Don’t hold back from having a family portrait just because you feel it’s not ‘masculine’ enough. You CAN place those stickers of your favorite Anime character if that’s what you are into, or action figures from your favorite TV show.
At the end of the day, it is there for you and to help you get productive work done as fast and easily as possible.
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