Working from home in your Fort Collins apartment provides a level of flexibility, convenience and comfort that is invaluable. Working from home often allows you to set your own hours, work in your pajamas, avoid the frustration of rush hour traffic, or stop to eat whenever you get hungry. Working from home is especially beneficial for people with children as it allows you to save on daycare costs and avoid finding someone to watch your kids during school breaks.
While the advantages of a home office are undeniable, working from your apartment can come with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest challenges for a home office in a rental apartment is the amount of available space you have to work with, but it is possible to create a work zone where you can get some serious work done. To help you stay productive and take full advantage of your home office, here are a few tips to make working from the comfort of your own home even better.
In an apartment, you may not have the luxury of transforming an entire room into a fully equipped office, but you should be able to find an area that you can claim as a workspace. Having some form of separation or something that designates a work area will help you to stay in the right state of mind as you work.
Whether you have a full room to use as an office, a corner in your bedroom, or a desk in the living room, a designated work area will create separation between feeling at home and being at work. If you don’t have the available space for a desk or simply prefer to sit on the couch as you work, you can claim an area where you can keep all work-related items. By choosing a filing cabinet, drawer, bookcase, dresser or even just a basket where you can store work supplies, you can ensure you’re more efficient as you work.
Having a designated workspace can also be helpful in setting boundaries with roommates or family members so that the tools you need to be productive can always be found and the time you need to get work done is always respected.
Working from home is convenient when it comes to coordinating work and personal life. However, it can be inconvenient if you don’t have the right tools for the job. If your apartment doubles as your office, you will need to be smart about the tools and applications you choose to work with.
Thankfully, technology has made it easier to work remotely, whether you’re in your apartment or if you decide to take work to the coffee shop down the street. For many industries, all you need to successfully work from home is a high-quality laptop, a cellphone, a strong Internet connection, and maybe even a printer.
Tools to consider include:
For a list of the best laptops for business, click here. Also, here you can find a longer list of worthwhile tools for anyone who works remotely.
When you’re surrounded with the comforts of your own home, it makes it easier to get distracted or sidetracked. Setting a schedule along with establishing personal standards for work will help you to stay focused and productive. Just as a designated work area is helpful, likewise is a designated schedule. Set expectations for yourself including when to begin your workday, when to end it, and the best times to take a break.
Having expectations can make all the difference when your bed is calling your name in the other room or when the TV and your favorite spot on the couch feel like a better way to spend your time. Set goals to ensure that you can resist the comforts of home while working from the comfort of your own apartment.
Sharing your home with your office can work well if you simply set priorities and standards to help you stay focused while you get the job done in your apartment. For more advice on ways to make working from home work well, click here.
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