A Guide To Setting Up & Organising Your Work From Home Office

Stamps Direct
Office Stamps
27 Mar 2023
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Working from home has become the new normal for many people and it requires a new level of organisation and discipline to maintain productivity. Home offices can quickly become cluttered with papers, documents and other items, making it difficult to focus and be efficient. Many of us work from the kitchen table so those challenges can be even more pronounced. Staying organised in your home office has many benefits, such as reduced stress, increased productivity and a better work-life balance.

In this article, we will provide practical tips and advice on how to stay organised in your home office. From decluttering your desk to setting up a system for filing documents, we will cover everything you need to know to create a clutter-free and productive work environment. By implementing these strategies, you will be able to maximise your time and focus on the tasks at hand, leading to better results and a more fulfilling work experience.

Whether you are new to working from home or have been doing it for a while, this article will provide valuable insights and inspiration to help you stay organised and achieve your goals. So, let's get started and turn your home office into a productive and organised space!

1. Dedicate a specific space for your home office

Choose a space in your home that you can dedicate solely to work. Ideally, this should be a room with a door that can be closed to separate work from personal time and reduce distractions.

Make sure the space has adequate lighting, either from natural light or from a desk lamp.

If possible, place your desk near a window for natural light and a view of the outdoors, which can improve your mood and energy levels.

2. Keep your workspace organised and clutter-free

Maintaining an organised and clutter-free home workspace is essential for productivity and well-being while working from home. A cluttered and disorganised workspace can be distracting and cause stress, while a clean and organised space can promote focus and calm.

Declutter regularly

Start by clearing out all unnecessary items and throwing away or recycling anything that you no longer need. This will give you a fresh start and help you establish a clutter-free workspace.

Designate a place for everything

Assign a specific place for all of your work-related items, such as desk organisers for your pens, paper and other supplies, and file cabinets or shelving units for your documents and files. This will make it easy to find what you need and keep your workspace organised.

Use storage containers

Invest in storage containers, such as boxes, baskets, or bins, to store items that you need to keep but don't use regularly. This will help you keep your workspace clutter-free and reduce visual distractions.

Keep your desk clean

Try to keep your desk as clear as possible, with only the items that you need for your current task on it to help you stay focused and minimise distractions.

Use wall space

Utilise wall space to create extra storage and keep items off of your desk. Consider installing shelves or hanging organisers to store books, files, or other items.

Create a filing system

Set up a filing system that works for you, whether it's using physical file folders or a digital system and make sure you regularly file away documents and other items to keep your workspace organised.

3. Categorise and label everything

Label all of your storage containers, drawers and file folders to make it easy to find what you need. This will save you time and help you stay organised.

Rubber stamps can play a role in helping people stay organised as they work from home by providing a quick and easy way to label, categorise and sort documents and other items.

Some of the ways that rubber stamps can be used to help with organisation include:

Categorising Documents

Rubber stamps can be used to quickly categorise and label documents, such as bills, invoices and receipts, making it easier to file and retrieve them later. For example, you can use a stamp that says ‘Received’ or ‘Paid’ to mark the status of a document.

Prioritising Tasks

Use rubber stamps to prioritise tasks by marking items with ‘Urgent’, ‘Important’, or ‘To Do’ to help you prioritise your work. This can be particularly helpful when you have multiple projects or tasks to manage.

Creating a System

By using different rubber stamps for different purposes, you can create a system for organising and categorising items in a way that works best for you. For example, you might use one stamp for personal items and another for work-related items.

Time Management

Use rubber stamps to mark the date or time a task was completed, helping you keep track of when items were finished and providing a reference for future planning.

Customising Labels

Rubber stamps can be customised with your own text, allowing you to create labels and categories that are specific to your needs. This can be particularly helpful when you have unique organisational requirements.

Explore our ready-made and personalised stamps for your home office.

4. Clean regularly

Clean your workspace regularly to remove any dust or debris and keep it looking its best. This can include wiping down your desk, vacuuming the floor and cleaning your computer and other electronics.

5. Watercolour painting

It is important to reduce distractions when working from home because they can significantly reduce productivity and increase the time it takes to complete tasks. Distractions can also negatively impact the quality of work and make it harder to stay focused, which can lead to frustration and stress.

It can be particularly hard to reduce distractions when working from home because there are typically more potential distractions in the home environment compared to a traditional office setting.

- FlexJobs found that 31% of respondents cited household chores as a major source of distraction when working from home.

- Work, Employment and Society found that remote workers reported higher levels of interruptions from family and friends compared to those who worked in traditional office settings.

Reducing distractions: a checklist

- Turn off notifications on your phone and limit access to social media and other distractions during work hours.

- If you live with others, consider setting boundaries and explaining that you need quiet and solitude during work hours.

- Use noise-cancelling headphones or white noise to block out any distracting sounds from the outside.

6. Establish a routine

Setting a routine and sticking to it can help you be more productive and organised, as well as help you better manage your time.

Make a schedule for your workday, including set times for breaks and try to stick to it as much as possible.

Set a routine for the end of the workday, such as closing your laptop and tidying up your workspace, to help you transition from work mode to personal time.