With an increased number of employers introducing a more flexible working schedule, working from home is becoming an increasingly popular choice for professionals across a broad range of industries.
Last year, a report from the TUC found that the number of people working from home was up by a fifth when compared with the previous decade – and thanks to the number of benefits associated with working remotely, it’s easy to see why.
While working remotely gives employees more control over their working day, it can be difficult to stay motivated outside of a professional environment – which is why, today, we’re taking a look the importance of creating a suitable workspace to ensure maximum productivity out of the office.
Find a suitable location
While working from home might conjure up images of a lazy morning in bed with your laptop on your knee, the reality is you’ll get very little work done this way. It’s good practice to start the day as if you were heading into the office: so get up, take a shower and get dressed, ready for work.
Appropriate seating will play a big part in your productivity. Resist the temptation to curl up on the chair in the lounge and find a more suitable working environment. If you don’t have a home office, set your laptop up on a table and make sure you have plenty of back support before you get to work.
Remove distractions
Whether you’re working from the comfort of your own home or heading to a café, you should ensure you’re free from any unwanted distractions. For some, the noise of the TV in the background helps them work, while others while find themselves sneaking glances at the screen and losing concentration. Be honest with yourself about what works for you and remove any distractions.
If you’re working in a public area, avoid being drawn into conversations by wearing headphones. Even if there’s no music playing, you’ll find that the presence of headphones will stop people approaching you, as they’ll assume you’re busy – leaving you free to concentrate on your workload.
Have set breaks
While working from home might afford you the luxury to be more flexible with your schedule, don’t slip into the habit of working for long periods of time without a break. With deadlines looming, it’s easy to mistakenly believe that you’ll be more productive if you work through coffee and lunch breaks – but sitting still for long periods of time results in neck and shoulder pain, so it’s crucial that you get up and move around during the working day.
If you want to perform well at work, taking regular outdoor breaks, having a coffee and making the most of natural light will help you to keep your mind on the job at hand. This way, when it comes to clocking off, you can log off and enjoy your evening without worrying about what you didn’t achieve during the day.
Whether you’re a working mum, a carer or just fancy some time away from the office, working from home comes with numerous benefits – and when done properly, can increase productivity levels.
About the Author
Phil White is Managing Director at Novell Coffee – bringing Nespresso compatible capsules to coffee lovers across the UK and beyond.
