Here are 8 great tips to keep your at-home space ready for when you are!

1. Treat it like a real office

– Use it for work and work only, don’t watch shows or play on the ‘net while in your workspace
– Leave the room when you take a break, get up, walk, have some water or a snack

2. Start with a blank slate
– It feels good to start something from scratch and make it exactly how you want it
– Don’t go overboard with knick knacks and photo frames
– Use what you need, lose what you don’t


3. Set your priorities
– Basics, a lamp, a charging station, and a place for a drink
– Otherwise, base your space around what you do, i.e. if you need to be able to write notes by hand, leave yourself enough desk space to do that


4. What are your weaknesses?
– Turn your phone over, so you can’t see notifications
– Get some earplugs if sound is an issue
– Turn your desk at an angle that offers the least distraction
– Fidget spinners vs. real distractions, you can’t change that the building down the street is being renovated LOUDLY, but you can ask your housemates for a little more quiet during a zoom meeting


5. Handle your incoming traffic
– Organize, set a specific time, maybe the first Sunday of the month, clear away clutter, physical and digital
– Don’t let your inbox overwhelm you, be methodical and make a system that works for you, and USE IT!


6. Be creative with storage
– If you only have so much space, try to work upwards and downwards from the level
– Do you need a whole filing cabinet that takes up a lot of space, or would a single hanging folder crate work, put on a low shelf. 
– Where do you store/keep out of line of site, things that you only use a couple times a month Maybe you digitize everything? That’s super handy/tidy. Getting a scanner may be your answer


7. Be inspired
– Is it quotes, or a motivational pictures, or taking 5 minutes at the start of every work day to watch a video that pumps you up?
– Use what’s available to you to keep you going Maybe it’s as simple as a photo of your family
– Listen to the sounds of others working, found here on mynoise.net

8. Clean up before you leave
– If you had a snack, take away the dishes
– If you got something out, put it away
– Leave your space as close to a fresh start for next time
– As my grandfather said, “Everything in its place, a place for everything.
”

And a few other pointers that didn’t quite make the list –

* Get enough sleep – everything in your life is based on a foundation of sleep, if this isn’t working for you, it’s hard to get anything else working for you.


* Plan what you can in advance – when will you take a break? Lunch? End the day? It doesn’t have to be to the minute, but a ballpark figure is probably good to have


* Have a positive mindset – it’s okay to get upset and frustrated, but when you’re not, try to keep things on the up and up, so you feel up to the task.


* Find meaning in your work – in small and big ways.
 Keep your expectations realistic – just because you have the perfect workspace, doesn’t mean you’re suddenly going to be a genius at your work. It’s going to give you a leg up, but you’ve still got to pull your own weight.


* Check in with yourself – are things working, in what ways are they and what ways are they not, what can you do about it, remember sometimes it’s just about radical acceptance.


* Remember work-life-balance – keep making plans outside of work – schedule them ahead of time if you need to.


* Pace yourself – new takes time to become routine and habit. Be gentle on your missteps.

Whether you are indeed working from home, or have an office out of the home. These are great tips to keep in mind to give you the best opportunity for success. If you need help setting up your space, or getting started once you have, schedule a free 30 minute Discovery Call with me and I’d love to help in any way you need!