Whether you are in an office of a boutique agency or working in the comfort of your home, setting up and managing your workspace is critical to ensuring productivity and efficiency.
Let’s face it, we all have our own ideas of creature comforts, but sometimes taking it too much could end up causing more distractions and affect your work, which could lead to mental and health consequences in the long run.
Having a sense of independence during your work time can be a very liberating feeling, however, if you cannot muster the discipline to prioritise your tasks and achieve your targets you might fall short of your business expectations.
Real estate agents are most often endowed with this independence and those who make it to the top are those who have overcome such challenges and know how to effectively prioritise work over recreation or leisure.
Based on a survey of workers and entrepreneurs, one of the primary factors that affect productivity is the work environment, particularly the workspace.
So, how can someone take advantage of such ideas to organise their workspaces and find themselves more productive?
Here are some of the most popular ideas shared in that study from those either working in an office or at home.
Identifying and setting up your ideal workspace
Start with the basics. Whether at home or in an office setting you need to have a desk, chair, telephone, and a desktop or laptop computer.
Removing any appliance or electronic device that could cause distractions such as a television, gym equipment, etc. so you could focus on work and avoid getting distracted unless you use television for work such as monitoring the news or market updates as part of your work.
Remember that this work area is intended for what it is – a workspace- not a recreational room, library, or entertainment area.
If you occupy a whole office room to yourself, make it conducive for working with access to all the basic needs to carry out your work. A popular fixture nowadays is a standing desk, which allows you to stand up from your desk to prevent you from sitting down for long periods.
If you are working from home, make sure to close it at the end of the day and separate it from your living areas.
Have a dedicated “work phone” aside from your personal phone. Only provide your work contact details when exchanging contact details, credentials, and do not get tempted to offer your personal number used for family or urgent matters.
Avoid checking emails during time off or weekends that can throw off your work/life balance.
Set schedules and establish your routine
Make sure to limit your work hours within your prescribed official hours. Try to fit your tasks within your regular business hours and give yourself time to get off work at the end of the day. of the day. You deserve to have time for rest and refresh yourself from a tiring day at work or the office.
When working from home, a flexible schedule gives you an option to manage your own time for work and when you can get off, but without a work schedule, you can easily lose track of time and end up sleeping all day and working all night.
Set a time for work, schedule your breaks, and keep away from distractions such as watching television, social media, or going out for a cup of coffee for long periods.
Replicate your work from home time similar to that of your office work routine and develop the discipline to stay committed to it.
Reward yourself as much as you would after a day at work because you deserve it.
Establish a work-life balance
Determine your work parameters to make you productive throughout your business or work hours. You can’t be too comfortable and spend most of your time during the day sitting down or taking breaks whenever you want.
Manage your time well by scheduling breaks and finding time to stand up and walk around or do quick stretching or exercises.
Make it a health investment, since getting stressed or sickly can be costly when end up losing work due to a sedentary routine.
Avoid taking frequent trips to the cafeteria, fridge or the snack cooler in your workspace to avoid eating too much especially when you feel stressed or pressured at work.
When working from home, having people around such as kids or other family members can affect your work routine, so set expectations on your need to focus on work during your official work hours.
Having a work/life balance is important so make sure to adhere to your work hours and make time for your family and loved ones.
Also, set restrictions for unannounced visitations, unless the need to accept it is related to work or for urgent matters.
Designate a workspace where you could dedicate time and focus on work whether it is a compartmentalised module, an office room, or a room in the house. Make it your work zone and leave it at that.
Set your boundaries
Always be conscious of your mental and physical limits. Establish the best time of the day that you feel you could focus intently on work and establish that rhythm if that makes you more productive and efficient.
There may be a lot of things to consider when working in an office or from home and if you cannot develop the habit of staying committed to your work schedules you may end up less productive, ineffective, and inefficient,
With the right determination and mindset, you may soon adapt to your work environment and sustain it in the long term until it becomes second nature and effortless to you.