Work at home? When we first began Remodelista, we met once a week around Julie's dining room table and worked at home the rest of the time. (We had no trouble focusing on work at home; our challenge, rather, was knowing when to turn off the computer.)
We turned to Unclutterer's Deb Lee, a Certified Professional Organizer, for tips on how to work effectively from a home office. See her list of suggestions below:
Above: Sarah's home office.
1. As much as possible, take care of distractions before working. If you are distracted by disorder or something that can be completed ahead of time, take care of these items each night before heading to bed so you can focus on work the next day.
2. Work at your best time. Find out what time of day you are most productive,then structure your schedule so you can do the work that requires the greatest amount of focus during the times when you are at your best.
3. Work at a table or desk. Work in a place that feels like you should be doing work there. Sit at an organized desk (or table) and in a sturdy chair.
4. Keep your to-do list visible. Start each day by reviewing your to-do list or creating one so you have a clear understanding of where you’re going. Crossoff items as you go.
5. Add deadlines to your task list. Use a calendar, a stop watch, or any other device that will help you to reach goals by specific times.
6. Keep email notifications turned off. Since email comes in at random times, it is hard to work without interruptions. Check e-mail on a schedule or when you take a break. If you can, turn that notification off when you need to focus.
7. Have water and healthful snacks close by. Selecting your snacks at the start of the day will keep you from taking excessive breaks to the kitchen.
8. Take breaks and stretch. At least once an hour, you should move a little to keep you at your best.
To see the article in full, go to Unclutterer. Pare down your life with Erin Dolan's Book: Unclutter Your Life in One Week.
Let us know if you have any great suggestions for working at home.