MUST READ- Tips On Managing Your Company From Home

      Working from home may sound like a dream job to many. However, if your home is not set up in a manner conducive for work, your goals can turn into a nightmare, ADEMOLA ALAWIYE writes
It is difficult to remain productive if your work area is not peaceful. No productivity means no money for the self-employed or job termination if you are telecommuting for an employer. For this reason, making sure there is peace in your home is well worth the effort.
     It is not unusual for entrepreneurs to run their businesses from home these days. Also, it is increasingly common for people to work from home or take
work home too. Consequently, it is becoming more important for people to prepare their homes for that purpose – by creating workplaces at home, which will enhance their chances of achieving their objectives.
While your company or employer may be responsible for creating a workplace for you away from home, it is your responsibility to do so at home.
     According to experts, for your workplace to have a positive impact on your productivity or business, it has to be organised in such a way that it is comfortable and functional. This involves ‘little’ things such as ensuring that the type of desk or chair you use in the workplace is the right one.
In setting up a workplace at home, experts say it is important to ensure that it is designed in such a way that you will be able to work without disrupting the way your household functions. For example, some parents who lack a proper workplace end up working in the sitting room. To do this, they sometimes end up sending the kids away – preventing them from watching their ‘favourite television programmes.’ Doing this amounts to disrupting the functioning of your household.
To set up a workplace that is both convenient and safe at home, consider the following tips:
Keep it isolated
      As stated above, it is important that you design your workplace in such a way that it won’t prevent your household from functioning effectively. Activities don’t have to be suspended because ‘daddy or mummy is working.’ It is for this reason that experts say it is best to locate your workplace in a part of the home that is isolated.
     Apart from allowing your household to function freely, separating the workplace from busy areas of the home will give you the peace and quietude you require to get your work done.
Experts note that many people have their workplaces very close to the sitting room, while some convert a part of the sitting room to their workplace. They, however, stress that this is a wrong move as the sitting room is one of the noisiest places in the home, especially when that favourite TV programme is on or when visitors show up.
      If the nature of your work involves clients or co-workers showing up at your workplace at home, then you have to take that into consideration. If your workplace is created out of your bedroom and the only way to access it is through the room, it won’t be convenient for such a situation. Experts advise that you locate your workplace in a part of the house where clients can easily access it without having to pass through very private parts of the house.
      The nature of your job or the work you have to do at home also matters. If what you have to do requires using noisy equipment or machines, then it will be wise to locate your workplace in a very isolated area so that the noise won’t bother everyone else.
Keep it safe
Having decided where to locate your workplace, experts say it is important that you design it in such a way that it is safe. To do this, it is important that you keep it neat and organised. Ensure that everything has a place that is properly marked, if possible, for easy identification. Apart from helping you to prevent the workplace from becoming hazardous, keeping it organised saves you the time and stress of having to look for items or files in the midst of a clutter. Keeping the workplace organised and safe means you have to ensure that you dispose of irrelevant items. So, you like to have a cup of coffee while working? Well, that is fine. But it is not safe to have five empty cups on your desk at the same time (because you didn’t have time to return them). They could fall, shatter and injure you or even make you spill coffee on your computer. The idea is to ensure that everything is organised.
Keep it comfortable
As long as you are not comfortable in your workplace, you are likely going to be less productive. What are the things that you require in the workplace? A desk, a chair, a computer? Whatever you come up with, ensure that you get the appropriate one. Even though you are advised to make the workplace comfortable, getting a sofa may only end up sending you to sleep. It is, therefore, important that you keep it professional. Get a comfortable chair and desk that are also appropriate for the nature of your job. Getting a desk that is too high or a chair that is too low is enough to make you uncomfortable. Since you are going to spend a lot of time in your workplace, it is also advised that you decorate it in such a way that you will stay motivated. From the lighting to the ventilation, whatever you think will motivate you should be considered. It could be a painting placed on the wall directly in front of you or your favourite quote.
Don’t overdo it
     In ensuring that your workplace is efficient, experts advise that you should also be careful not to do too much. There is no point hanging paintings all over the place or having motivational quotes scribbled all over the wall; they may all become a distraction, leaving you confused at times. Going all out to make it comfortable may also mean you have to spend more and that may be harmful to your business or your financial plan. Experts say it is important that you stick to the necessary and think of efficiency. Once you have fitted your workplace with the tools you need to work efficiently, your work is done.
      A little remodelling is okay every now and then. This is because overtime, the workplace can become bland and uninspiring.
Whether you are running your business from home or occasionally doing part of your work from home, experts stress that your workplace is crucial to your productivity and success. Despite its importance, they say you can set up an ideal workplace at home at a minimal cost. By taking the tips above into consideration, you are likely to find that easier to achieve.