Many of us have made the permanent or semi-permanent switch to working from home. While there are many great benefits, such as added comfort and zero commutes, you still need to avoid some potential pitfalls that can lead to severe issues. Look below to discover common mistakes people make with their home office that you need to avoid.
Using a Common Area
You should avoid setting up your desk in living rooms and other communal areas if others live in your home unless it’s unavoidable. The last thing you need is to be on the phone with a client while your kids are blasting people away on video games in the background. Spare rooms you can use as an office are the best, but you can also use a partition to separate your bedroom so that you have a dedicated space.
Failing To Protect Data
Your data is crucial, and working from home instead of an office puts it at greater risk. You should make sure you have physical and cloud backups whenever possible in case something goes wrong. Additionally, you must secure your internet connection so that it’s harder to hack or infect with malware.
Leaving a Cluttered Mess Around
The clutter that tends to build up in your home during a hectic week can slowly start to creep into your home office if you’re not careful. Once you notice piles of papers stacked on your desk and leftover food boxes littering the room, it’s time to do some spring cleaning. You need to keep your working area as neat as you would at the office. Otherwise, you may become distracted due to disorganization.
Sitting in an Uncomfortable Space
You may not think you need to put as much thought into the design and furnishings of your work-from-home area. But going with more comfortable choices can be very practical. Sitting in an uncomfortable chair or hunching over a desk that’s too short can cause strains and aches in your body that will eventually become highly distracting. Opt for more ergonomic designs so that you don’t need to worry about straining your body throughout the day.
When you know the common mistakes that people make with their home offices, you’ll be able to make smarter, more positive choices to maximize your productivity. When you set yourself up for success from the get-go in your house, you may wonder how you ever did any work back at the office.
