Working in a home office can certainly feel liberating. In fact, according to a survey conducted in 2016, individuals that work from home are happier, feel more valued, and are 91% more likely to report a higher level of productivity from their home office than people who don’t. All of these benefits aren’t a guarantee, however, and in order to execute the perfect home workspace, you need to put some work into it.
Developing a Work Ethic
One of the main character traits you need for any job is a strong work ethic, but this goes double for working at home. You could be tempted to do absolutely nothing all day since no one is looking over your shoulders, or you could be twice as productive because you have fewer distractions.
One of the ways effective workers manage to stay on task is by cultivating a good work ethic from a young age. Of the 57% of American adults who earned an allowance at a young age, 90% had to do chores, and 70% needed to do chores down to the penny. It’s easy to see how work ethic can be learned this way, but what if you didn’t do chores as a child?
It seems that, like in childhood, work ethic can be taught, even if it sometimes seems like it is inherent or a consequence of upbringing. If you are the type of person that likes to slack off, working from home is going to be a real challenge. You probably can change, but it rather ironically will require some hard work.
Tools of the Trade
Ever since Charles Darwin invented the wheeled office chair in the 1800s, his fame was fated. No, he wasn’t at all famous for basically creating modern biology, it was definitely due to desk chairs.
Now, however, we have literally thousands of swivel chairs to choose from, and many of them are expensive. Finding a decent deal on an office set up is no easy task, but browsing websites like Craigslist might prove to be a frugal way to find a comfortable seat. If you don’t have a desk, look for one online too. Simply put, lounging around on your couch or bed does not inspire optimum productivity, and the right office equipment can put you in the right mindset to do work.
Once you’ve perfected your new home office, you should now turn your attention to the broader environment of your workspace.
Ambiance and Economics
There are two factors to creating the best environment for remote work: cost and comfort. Let’s address cost first.
The U.S. Department of Energy claims that a nationwide switch from traditional light bulbs to LEDs would cut energy consumption by almost 50%. This doesn’t mean that your electric bill will see that strong of a drop off if you do the same in your home, but you will likely see at least some savings. This is especially important if you are going to be home more often, as you will inevitably be using more power every day. Another cost issue is your heating and cooling system. A typical house loses 20-30% of its air due to leaks and poorly connected ducts. This can wreak havoc on your energy bill.
Environmentally, old air ducts accumulate dust, pollen, and countless allergens. Not only does this further reduce your energy efficiency, but it could also cause some unwanted health effects. A stuffy nose, sinus pressure, and constant sneezing could lead to a marked decline in your productivity. Air is a part of your environment, make sure it is clean air.
Light is also part of your environment, and LED bulbs have been shown to increase worker productivity in addition to costing less. So, if you have old dim lights at home, you have double the incentive to replace them with something a bit more modern. However, if you’re whiling away the 9-to-5 hours at home, don’t underestimate the benefits of natural light on your mood and productivity! Anything beats those stifling office fluorescent bulbs, but nothing can beat natural sunshine.
Working from home can be great. Although you miss out on the socialization of the office, you make up for it in productivity and freedom to work when, where, and how you want. Make sure to always be conscious how much money your home office costs you, and how productive you are actually being. Otherwise, enjoy the solitude and liberty!
No Comments yet!