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Work from Home
Like A Boss

Words by Sayo Akinlude

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A dedicated home office has become as crucial as having a second bathroom so you needn't worry about having to work from home, because you’ve mostly likely had to do it before - even if it was just to send a quick email.

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Whilst you do want your home office to be comfortable, it also needs to be practical and inspiring enough for you to actually get work done. Many of us have already been working from home for a few days now - many of us have been failing at doing so. You’ve probably spent the last week or so pretending to work or sending numerous half-hearted emails or even just wondering where to start but amid new lockdown procedures, it’s really time to work. 

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The first thing you need is space! Your space doesn’t necessarily need to be a whole room - it can be a small corner in a room, but you will have to identify what you need the space for and you have to commit to it. Depending on what you do, you may want to ask yourself, will you simply need space to send and respond to emails? Will you also be receiving and making video or conference calls, in which case you would need a space with decent lighting. Will you need a printer? Will you need space for documents? Do you need space to write? These are all key questions you must ask yourself so that you are able to set up the most effective home working space for yourself. Identifying small details such as whether or not you need a printer or space for your documents or any other physical pieces of work beforehand, only works in your favour. You can then have what you need within reach and not have to go back and forth which may then lead to distractions and loss of focus. 

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Another important factor to consider when selecting your space is location! Are you in close proximity to the usual household activities? If so, you’ve picked the wrong place. Your home office is a place where you are (purposely) closed off from the rest of the world and able to focus. If you are constantly being distracted by what is happening around you, you will find this time at home very tedious. If you do not have many options in terms of location and space, negotiate with those in your home and work out a timetable where you are able to work in certain areas of the house without being disturbed - this will be your dedicated time to concentrate. If you don’t live alone, have a conversation with those you live with explaining that just because you are there, doesn’t mean it’s conversation time. 

Finally, it’s important to know when to take a break. Similarly, it’s important to know when that break is over. Ensure that you do not blur the lines between working at home and simply just being at home with work in front of you.

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