How To Design A Peaceful Home Office To Boost Your Productivity - It’s Easier Than You Think!

How To Create a Peaceful Setting That Makes You More Productive 

Are you someone who has to work from home now due to all the current social distancing restrictions? Then I’m sure you already know how hard it is to stay focussed and productive. After all, your home was meant to be your place to escape from the stress and deadlines, not walk into them, right? Does it feel like there is no work-life balance anymore?

Today, I’m going to share with you how you can create an environment that will not only help you feel more relaxed but also accomplish a whole lot more, every single day.

Here are some suggestions for maximum productivity and focus so that you can easily adapt to the change in working conditions.

1. Select a Soothing Colour Scheme For The Office.

Blue may be the most obvious choice, but there are plenty of tranquil hues including rose or earth tones. In fact, you can probably find a soft shade in any of your favourite colours. Save more dynamic tones for accent pieces.

2. Maximize Your Space.

If space is at a premium, look for furniture that doubles as storage and seating. Take advantage of wall space by installing shelves and hooks. Strategically placed mirrors can open up any room, and careful furniture placement will make things feel less cramped. Less is often more when it comes to creating peaceful workspaces.

3. Light Up Your Office.

If you have a window, make the most of the natural light and outdoor view. Adequate lighting around your workstation will minimize eyestrain. Adjustable lamps add additional comfort. Remember, the darker the room, the more light you'll need.

4. Introduce Some Fragrance.

If you have windows for natural light, try some easy-care plants like lavender or mint. Aromatic oil diffusers are also simple to use and long-lasting. Scents such as chamomile, frankincense, marjoram, and sage are known for their calming and centring qualities. When you need something more invigorating, try lemon or wintergreen. At Seema with Love, we have an amazing range of over 40 gorgeous scents and aromatic handmade candles, room diffusers and even handmade soaps.

5. Play Music.

One of the nicest things about working alone is being able to enjoy music without disturbing anyone else. Instrumental music is best when you're trying to concentrate. For routine tasks, play anything you want. Internet radio stations give you a huge selection. Spotify even has lists for nice relaxing music. We delivered some handmade candles to one of our VIP customers last week and she was happily working from home, listening to beautiful jazz music and burning her favourite Seema candle. What a clever idea, we thought!

6. Add Personal Touches.

Spread around some treasured photos or vacation souvenirs. I know travel and holidays may be a little while yet but how about putting up some pics of where you have already been and right next to it, where you’d love to go when the restrictions are over. Post inspirational sayings or keep a book of favourite quotations on hand.

Getting Organized:

1. Banish Clutter.

Plan for sufficient filing and storage space to help you keep clutter under control. Go paper-free whenever possible. We use Evernote a fair bit in our home office. You can now even scan documents with your iPhone and send yourself a pdf copy.
Regularly sort through your materials for things you can discard or archive.

2. Clean Regularly.

Vacuum and dust every two to four days. Do a thorough cleaning at least once a month. This will help protect you from germs and create a more hospitable environment. It will also be more inviting, every time you walk in as well.

3. Separate Your Personal and Business Activities.

When you work from home, it's helpful to create boundaries to keep your life in balance. Keep distractions like laundry out of the office, and office items such as files out of the rest of the house. Remember to practice this both ways. No work stuff outside the home office (in the rest of the house) and no home distractions in the home office either. This will help you to focus and will also reduce the risk of losing things.

4. Minimize Interruptions.

Some people may have trouble understanding that you're busy when you're at home. Let your family and friends know the hours when you need to minimize calls or other interruptions. Resist the temptation to check email too frequently and put your phone on voice mail or flight mode when you need some quiet time.

5. Stay Connected.

Take steps to avoid feeling isolated. Go out of the home office for lunch. Spend some time with your family during lunchtime or if you live on your own, what about some quality time with your pet. Your cat or dog would love the extra attention.

6. Give Yourself a Break.

When you set your own schedule, you need to plan your own breaks. You'll be more effective at work if you stay active and refresh your mind. Go for a walk or run before you settle down to work in the morning. If you find yourself working long hours, pick one afternoon to take off and see a movie.

Working at home can be a great experience if you create a setting that dispels fatigue and tension. Use these principles of design and organization to feel better and work more effectively.

You can do this!