Shelley Koster Bartlesville & Grand Lake Realtor 

If you work from home full-time, then you know what a hassle it can be to stay focused and on task. On the flip side, it can feel impossible to escape work when your it intrudes upon your comfort, which leads to stress. It is imperative that you create an exceptional work/life balance, finding serenity between home space and office space, here’s how.

Get dressed.

One great thing about working from home is the lack of a commute and the lack of fellow office workers, which might leave you feeling like you don’t have to dress up for work. However, if you find that you aren’t being very productive it could be the fact that you are still wearing your PJ’s.

According to a 2012 study from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, clothing may also have an impact on personal performance . “ If people associate certain qualities with certain items of clothing, it can influence how they act in those clothes. ” For instance, if you associate your PJ’s with sleeping, then working with them on is going to cause you to be less productive.

Set boundaries.

As a small business owner or a person who works from home, chances are you are determined and hardworking, it comes with the territory. However, if you are going to find a balance between work and life you cannot let your dedication spill into every corner of your home. You can do this by:

• Setting boundaries: Keep your office contained to one room in the house and only work in that room, not wherever you feel like.
• Setting a schedule: If you have the luxury of keeping your own schedule, then do it. Don’t just work whenever, but at set times that are predetermined by you.
• No Shop Talk: If your spouse is also your business partner, then determine what areas of the house are off limits to “shop talk” such as the living room, dining room, and bedroom.

These simple boundaries will keep your work contained and give you spaces to relax.

Choose a good location

Location is everything. You want to pick a space in your home that is away from distractions, and provides you with enough space to function.

Let there be light

Natural light is an ideal mood booster, so make sure your home office has a window! Sunlight affects our behaviors, moods, and even hormonal balances, having an office space with natural lighting will help you to keep a positive outlook on things and stay productive. I know how lonely it can be when you spend eight hours a day by yourself, so do yourself a favor and be near a window.

Create for your workflow

There is a ton of great ideas out there to help you design your office furniture and placement, however, when placing your office furniture keep in mind your workflow.

It is your space, lay it out the way you want to.

If you find yourself getting up to go to the filing cabinet throughout the day, then just move the cabinet over by your desk, the same goes for printers and shelves. Be comfortable, and create layout your office for your work flow.

Be an extrovert

As we’ve already said, being at home all the time can be lonely. It’s important that you take opportunities to be an extrovert, talk to people on the phone, through text, or connect with your friends on social media. Take a break, go outside, and talk to people, especially if you find yourself working hours upon end with no end in sight. While we don’t suggest that you let it distract you from work, it is important for keeping your spirits up!

Decorate

Invest in your office and decorate it! Keeping your home office a place you want to come back to is totally up to you. Things like painting the walls, hanging pictures, or filling a vase with flowers, will make your home office way more inviting and a place where you will enjoy working.

Inspire yourself

This might sound a little cheesy, however, I can attest to how well this works. Keep a shelf of your favorite tchotchkes, pictures, or quotes that you can look at during the day to stay inspired.

Overstock

Paper, pencils, staples, oh my! Office supplies always seem to run out just when you least expect it, then what happens? You make a trip to the store and four hours later, you finally get back to work. Productivity and your to-do list goes right out the window. Therefore, we suggest you overstock when purchasing essential office supplies. Thus, you can stay on track at all times.

Add Greenery

A bouquet of flowers here or a basil plant there will make your home office space more inviting and make it smell fresh!

We hope that you continue to enjoy working from home, and that you find something here to help spruce up your home office!