Creating the Perfect At-Home Workspace
According to government statistics, there are currently 4.6 million self-employed workers in the UK, accounting for 15% of the total workforce. This doesn’t include the 356,000 who are employed working for other people as their main job but who are have a self-employed second job. With more women than ever becoming self-employed, we can assume that even more women are juggling their business with childcare and other household tasks (excuse the generalisation).
If you are one of these women, how efficient are your working habits? Do you sit on the couch in your loungewear, balancing a laptop on your lap as you half-watch Game of Thrones, or do you sit in a dedicated workspace, where you are as free as possible from the distractions of everyday life?
It is true that many at-home businesses start on the kitchen table, operating during those snatched minutes when the children are asleep but the time will soon come when you need to treat your business with the respect it deserves.
You may not want to be the next Richard Branson but to be a success you need to stop treating your business as a hobby.
Here are some of our top tips for creating the perfect, or as near as possible, workspace in your home.
- Set aside a dedicated space. This doesn’t need to be a fully-equipped home office; a corner in your spare bedroom, dining room or even a cupboard large enough to house a small desk or a shelf. The most important aspect is that it is somewhere you can treat as your workspace.
- Block distracting websites. No more Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or whatever else you use as your prime procrastination tool. Download one of the free apps or browser add-ons available to prevent you from accessing certain sites and use it religiously. Try StayFocusd or Simple Blocker for a start.
- Be strict. No matter what else needs to be done, don’t let yourself procrastinate. Popping off for five minutes to do housework or anything else that isn’t work wouldn’t be acceptable in an office and should not be acceptable in your home office. Be tough and you’ll soon break that habit.
Do you run a business from home? What top tips would you like to share with our other readers? Please leave a comment and share your wisdom; it will be greatly appreciated.
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