Three reasons why you should consider creating a dedicated workspace
Remote working has been gaining in popularity over the past few years. And during the COVID-19 crisis, many organizations have allowed their employees to work from home.
But while working from home might seem the dream for some, working without a dedicated workspace can make things harder.
many people find it difficult to maintain normal productivity when working outside their offices. Whether you work part-time or full-time remotely, you need to have a suitable working environment for your type of business; one that’s in balance with your personal life.
The type of business you’re running will help you determine the ideal size and location of your dedicated workspace. There are several key considerations when choosing a workspace. For example, if you have a spare room you can use, or whether you’re turning a corner of a room into your workspace.
Closing a door while working can help to promote concentration and creativity. Another way of avoiding distractions is by putting on noise-canceling headphones.
A dedicated workspace can be in your home, a separate structure, or a public place. Here are three benefits to creating a dedicated place of your own to work.
1) It allows customization
You’ll have complete control over your workspace. When working in a typical office environment, you’re forced to work in the one-size-fits-all area. As a result, many workers may be working in a less than ideal setting for them.
With a dedicated space, you can set it up to satisfy your personal preferences, and add whatever you need to improve your productivity. For example, you can use sliding room dividers in your working space to keep the noise and distractions out.
2) It’s easier to separate your personal and private life
When many people start working remotely, they often take fewer breaks, which means they end up working more hours than they had planned. But that’s less of a concern when you create a dedicated workspace, as it allows you to split where you work and spend your leisure time.
With such spaces, you can avoid multitasking and focus on your work. According to researchers, multitasking means not giving 100% to any task you are working on at any given time. Instead, you’ll be able to handle one project at a time without distractions.
3) It’s tax deductible
The good news about creating a dedicated space in your property to work is that it’s usually tax-deductible. So you can help to reduce your tax bill.
How do you create a dedicated workspace?
You deserve a space that promotes your concentration and productivity when it comes to your work. One of the first actions you should take to balance your personal and professional life is creating a threshold.
Determine where your work physically starts and stops. If your dedicated workspace is located at home, leave a note as a remind the rest of your family that you are at work.
Create a pinup section
So how do you design a dedicated workspace? One way to personalise your space is to display examples of different things that inspire you to do your work. Ensure you leave a blank part of your wall and use it to write your ideas as they develop. It could be a framed space to facilitate your visual thinking.
By including the pinup area in your dedicated workspace, you’ll be categorizing various tasks as work-related. The content and colors will depend on your personal preferences. If you incorporate things you love, it will encourage you to want to spend time in your workspace.
Get an ergonomic chair
Sitting on a couch may seem comfortable at first, but it’ll impact your motivation – and your spine in the long run. So invest in a work desk and a good chair.
The right furniture will help you to improve your productivity. Adding them will also define your dedicated area as a professional workspace. Ensure you go for a beautiful and comfortable seat that’ll make you want to spend more time in your space.
Ensure you centralize your technology devices
If you can, invest in technology that you use solely for work, and ensure you keep everything you use regularly close to your working area. For example, if you need a laptop for your work, keeping it in another room in your home means you’ll need to leave your office to pick it up, leaving you one to distractions.
Find somewhere with natural light
Finally, make sure the location of your dedicated workspace has natural light, as medical researchers have discovered that natural light can help to boost your mood, which will in turn impact positively on your productivity.
Photo by Sincerely Media
