5 ways to create a dedicated office space that will help you focus

It is easy to romanticise the idea of working from home, you think of the perks of not having to commute to and from work, less wasted time in meetings, being able to wear sweatpants all day and having the flexibility and autonomy over your schedule.

 

Why you need a dedicated office space

However, what many don’t realise is that the novelty of working from home will wear off at some point, sooner rather than later, and that most people find that although home is comfortable, it may be that much harder to focus and be efficient with their work in such a familiar and comfortable environment.

In this article, we will discuss 5 ways that you can create a dedicated office space for yourself that will help you focus, be more efficient and most importantly, help you enjoy your working from home lifestyle.

How to create your dedicated office space conducive to your best work

1.     Create your own private space

Some employers require remote employees to have a dedicated room wherein they can do their work without being interrupted or distracted, and this is for good reason. When you are working from home, the interruptions of family members, distractions of comforts like entertainment or eating whenever you want, the interruptions will break your focus and negatively affect your ability to complete tasks.

By creating a dedicated, private office space, you will minimise the interruptions you experience throughout your working day. Be sure to let your family members know that they are helping you focus by minimising interruptions as much as possible.

 

2.     Soundproof to help you focus

We are easily distractable beings. Sound that is in the wrong place or wrong time is just noise and noise is very distracting. There are ways to minimise the noise that you hear in your private study, these include:

• addressing the source of noise: if your neighbour plays loud music during work hours, it could be as simple as having a conversation about it
• soundproofing your private office space: if you are going all out and building your office, it is worth it to invest in high-quality building materials to help in soundproofing your walls. From dropped ceiling installation to reduce the noise from the floor above, to superior plasterboard materials in the build. You could speak to a local plasterer about their recommendations, especially if you are in the design stage.
• Noise canceling headphones: headphones are not only for listening to music, but they can also be used as noise canceling devices, wherein you could listen to alpha wave study music to promote concentration, or whatever floats your boat.

3.     Clear your distractions

Rather than having to exercise your willpower multiple times in an hour, why not reduce your distractions by removing the source from your study?

Considering removing your personal phone, blocking social media from your desktop or work phone, remove distracting photos or posters and create a minimalistic, clean environment that is conducive to your most focused self.

4.     Ergonomically designed office furniture

Working from home often involves a lot of time spent sitting down at a desk. Create an office set up that will protect your body from long-term damage from bad posture or straining positions.

Choose furniture that is ergonomically designed to promote your best self, including chairs that support good posture, desks that convert from sitting to standing to promote circulation and flexibility, as well as keyboards that are designed for long term use.

The investment into quality ergonomically designed office furniture is well worth it considering how many hours you will be using them. Just think of how much money you’ll save not buying lunch at work 5 times a week and invest that money into buying yourself good quality furniture.

5.     Temperature control

Temperature control is an important factor to consider in designing your office. We are easily distractable if we are not comfortable, for example, if your office gets stuffy and too hot, you will find yourself frustrated, less patient and less able to focus for long periods. Consider investing in a split system air-conditioning unit or a ceiling fan to promote air circulation, and the same goes for keeping warm, invest in a heater that will promote physical comfort without making your drowsy!

Conclusion

A dedicated office space, designed to help you stay focused, efficient with your time and designed to help you enjoy your working from home lifestyle is well worth the time and resources you invest into it.