Recent research by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed the number of employed people working from home now sits at 30 per cent, that’s around one in three people. Another study by online jobs marketplace Upwork found that an estimated 4.1 million Australians are now freelancers. Working from home has become less of an ideal and more of a regular occurrence for everyday Australians.
By extension, the home office has become an important room in many Australian homes, and setting it up for success takes more than simply matching your stapler to your tape dispenser, and investing in back-up external storage.
Reach peak performance with our quick and easy guide to setting up your home office for success.
1. Have an organised space
An organised desk or home office space helps you to prioritise your daily goals and reduce distractions by having everything you might need at your fingertips. Evaluate what things you have in your space versus what you actually need, then declutter accordingly. Allocate a designated area of your desk to essentials such as pens, staplers, tape, paperclips, a calculator, note paper, USBs, etc. Scientists at Princeton University Neuroscience Institute have found that physical clutter negatively affects your ability to focus on the task at hand.
2. Go easy on the eyes
Ensure you have a computer monitor that doesn’t strain your eyes unnecessarily. Aim for a model that offers clear, crisp imagery and a screen that doesn’t fade as this can make looking at the screen hard work. If you have a window in your home office that showers midday sun across your desk in a distracting way, invest in window dressings or blinds that can be opened and closed to reduce glare.
3. Give yourself options
An ergonomic chair is an excellent way to stay comfortable while seated throughout your work day, however having a sitting/standing desk that can be adjusted to suit both scenarios can help keep you focused. It’ll get you changing your position from sitting to standing regularly, and it changes your environment incrementally to maximise your motivation and focus. American studies have found that standing desks can reduce the risk of weight gain, cancer and increase life expectancy, as well as benefitting your posture.
4. Visualise your goals
Keep your daily goals at the front of your mind by having a white board, to-do list or digital reminders set throughout the day to keep you on-task, on-time and prioritising your goals effectively.
5. Find your flow
Really think about when you do your best work and structure your work day and goals around that time. If you’re a morning person, prioritise important tasks or big jobs for the AM. If you’re an afternoon person try taking care of the little things in the morning and hitting the hard stuff in the afternoon.
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