First published: 23 January 2021 @ 4:38 pm
Whether you’re freelancing or running a startup, a home office is an absolute must. A dedicated space where you can get work done without the distractions of home life is critical to success.
If you’re a freelancer, make sure to check out our guide on setting up a freelance business.
A lot of people like to get their work done in coffee shops. While this can be effective, it has some drawbacks. The main problem with working in coffee shops is that it’s easy to become distracted by your surroundings.
If you’re working on something that requires focus, having people walk by and talk loudly nearby isn’t ideal. Also, if you need to make calls or have long conversations with clients or coworkers, it can be awkward in public spaces like coffee shops and restaurants.
How to Set Up a Home Office Where You Can Get Things Done
First, decide on a space in your home that can be dedicated to work. Ideally, this will be a room with minimal distractions. It should have enough space for you to have your desk and any other work-related items.
Once you’ve decided on a space, make sure it’s set up in a way that’s conducive to getting work done. It should be clean and well-lit with enough room for you to have your computer and other work materials without being cramped.
Your desk should be arranged in a way that’s comfortable for you and allows you to keep your computer monitor at eye level (ideally at around eye level).
If you plan on using your laptop or tablet while working, make sure the desk is set up so that it can fit comfortably next to your computer monitor (see our guide on how to choose the right computer desk).
If possible, make sure there are no distractions in the room. This means no television or internet access (if you need internet access, use a wifi hotspot or tethering from your phone).
Once you’ve set up the room, start working! Work when you can get things done there rather than trying to squeeze it in between other activities.
The more you work in your home office, the more comfortable you’ll get and the more productive you’ll be.
Organize Your Documents to Stay Organized
When you’re working on a project, it can be easy to lose track of documents. If you don’t organize your documents well, it can become difficult to find what you need when you need it.
If you’re freelancing or running a startup, this can be extremely problematic. It could mean missing a deadline or losing out on a big client because of poor organization.
How to Organize Your Documents to Stay Organized
To stay organized, make sure you have a file system for your documents. We recommend having a file folder for each client or project.
Within each folder, keep all the documents related to that client or project in chronological order. This way, you can easily find what you need when you need it.
If you use your computer to store documents, you can also organize them by using a file management program like Evernote.
If you’re not familiar with Evernote, it’s a great tool for organizing and keeping track of documents. It’s available on almost every platform and allows you to create “notebooks” where you can keep your documents organized.
It also has some other great features like being able to make checklists and notes from webpages, making it an ideal tool for organizing both work-related and personal documents.
Set Deadlines to Stay on Track
One of the biggest problems with freelancing or running a startup is staying on track. There are so many distractions that can take away from getting work done that it can be easy to lose track of time.
When this happens, you can find yourself working late into the night or missing deadlines without even realizing it.
How to Set Deadlines to Stay on Track
To avoid this problem, set deadlines for yourself when working on projects. Make sure these deadlines are realistic but strict enough that they force you to get things done on time.
If possible, try setting a hard deadline (a date and time when you need to have something done) rather than a soft deadline (a general date by which you’d like to have something done). This will make it easier to get things done on time.
If you’re working on a big project, it can be helpful to break it down into smaller chunks. If you’re working on a website, for example, break it down into components like the front page, pages with contact information, and pages with more detailed information.
Set deadlines for each component and make sure you meet them before moving on to the next component.
In conclusion, freelancing and running a startup can be very rewarding, but they also come with their own set of challenges.
If you’re looking to take the plunge into freelancing or running your own business, you’ll need to learn how to stay productive while doing so. Hopefully, these tips will help you do just that!