Not many people have enough self-discipline to ignore what’s happening around them. Paying attention to anything that could harm us or alter our environments is a basic human instinct. Even though paying attention to our surroundings is a trait humans developed millions of years ago, our biology still stops us from totally focusing on a task when we can see and hear other things and people around us. And of course, unexpected sights or noises can interrupt our concentration.
If you’re working from home and want to make sure you can meet project deadlines and improve your ability to focus, here are some suggestions for making the necessary changes to your office space.
Select An Isolated Space
Your home office should be as far away as the “social” areas of your house. If you can, make sure your office space isn’t close to the kitchen, living room, or den. While this may seem like an obvious suggestion, it’s important to remember that you probably won’t be able to get any work done if you’re in the middle of the “action” at home. If you’re trying to carry on a conversation with family members, watching TV, and working on a project at the same, you won’t be able to work efficiently. If you can’t hear the TV shows, music, or discussions in your home, you’re less likely to be distracted and you can work better and faster.
Add Walls and Doors
Even if you’re not able to decorate your office exactly the way you want, you should make an effort to close doors and block out noise as much as possible. If you’re able to close the door of your office, this serves as a sign to your family members that you’re busy and can’t interact with them at the moment. You can also decorate the walls with art that will help you concentrate. Metal print photos are a modern and visually appealing choice. If you live in or near the London, Ontario area, you can contact a metal print photo service in Canada to customize your artwork and make you feel calm and motivated when you’re in your office.
If you can’t add traditional walls to your office, try sliding doors or dividers to distinguish your office space from the rest of the house.
Listen to White Noise
You may listen to your favorite music in your headphones while you’re working. This can block out other noises but could still be a distraction. After all, you may find yourself singing along to the lyrics instead of doing your work. If this sounds like you, try listening to white noise.
You can generate white noise when you tune your radio between stations or you can find videos of white noise on YouTube. Or, you can download a white noise playlist so you’ll always have it on hand if your WiFi signal goes down.
Let The Sunshine In
If you’re exposed to sunlight during the day, you’ll keep your circadian rhythms synchronized with your geographic location. This makes a big difference in your focus and concentration. When your rhythms are off, your mental performance declines and your wounds will Healy slower than they should. However, working in an office that is free of distractions is even more beneficial than working in sunlight.
Make Sure Your Office Has High Windows
You may have found a private place in your house to work, but if you’re looking outside when you should be concentrating on important tasks, you may fall behind schedule. High windows help you to avoid getting sidetracked since you won’t be able to see what’s going on outside. If you can’t work in a space with high windows, try installing heavy curtains on the lower portion of the windows to make it harder to see and hear what’s happening outside.
Choose Colored Lighting
When you want a room in your home to have a relaxing feel, you add golden or warm-hued light to space. However, it’s best to choose a blue light for your office, since this color increases alertness. Cool light bulbs provide the type of blue light you need. Avoid blue novelty lights, these are decorative and give all the items in the room a blue tinge. Cool light bulbs mimic the light that occurs in nature and keeps your mind calm yet alert.
Choose An Office with High Ceilings
If you want to think more creatively or artistically, you should be in a vertical visual space. If you have a job that requires you to think outside of the box, choose the area of your home with the highest ceilings. This may seem like a small aesthetic change, but it can make a huge difference in the way your mind processes information and formulates new ideas.
These practical and helpful tips can change the way you feel when you enter your office and improve your ability to concentrate. This can lead to more productivity and even boost your mood throughout the day since you’ll be able to accomplish important tasks and feel a sense of achievement.