To follow up with Wednesday’s post on creating a home office space, we’ll show you how to stay productive while working from home now that your home office is in working order.

As previously mentioned, it’s imperative to have a separate space dedicated to work. You may not have to leave the house, but working from home doesn’t mean staying in your pajamas and sitting in front of the TV with your laptop. Essentially, a separate space allows you to “go to work” in an area that’s free from distraction.

An adjustable height desk can be a beneficial accessory to working from home. With all the recent studies showing that standing increases productivity and concentration, you know it has the same effect in a home office.

Adjustable height desks give you the flexibility to move around, so you can remain focused while working from home. And there are plenty of options to customize your desk to fit your home office, even if you have a limited amount of space.

Once your home office is complete, you should set clear boundaries for yourself and other members of the household. Clearly communicate to others what you need to stay productive while working from home, whether that means a quiet environment or heading to your office and shutting the door.

If you don’t have the luxury of a separate room, choose an area of the living room to set up a desk and all the necessary equipment you’ll need. It may be tough, but keep the TV off and refrain from doing household chores while working from home. Which brings us to the next point – set regular work hours.

Treat working from home the same as working in an office – take breaks, or have an hour for lunch, and quit around the same time as office workers head out for the day. The other members of your household should respect your work hours, and pretend that you’re not there unless it’s an emergency.

And, getting dressed really does make a difference in productivity. You wouldn’t head to the office in your pajamas, so don’t allow your self to stay in your PJ’s all day while working from home. Remember – dress for success!

Working from home can seem like a luxury to office workers who suffer the daily grind, but it may not be as easy as you think. Household distractions are everywhere, and at-home workers have to learn how to change their mindset and be more of a self-starter while working from home.

Are you working from home? What are some of your tricks to stay productive?

The post How to Stay Productive While Working from Home appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

For this reason, we’ll show you a few tips on how to create a home office space, so you can tackle that mounting work load with ease, and still have time to start dinner at a decent hour.

Find an Appropriate Area
The first step to design your home office space is finding the perfect area to work. Many at-home workers make the mistake of setting up shop at the dining room table, or worse, that oh-so-comfortable couch. You’ll spend more time than you think in your home office space, so dedicate a complete area for better productivity.

A few things to consider before designing your home office space:
• Location: will you only need a corner of the living room, or a spare bedroom to spread out?
• Function: does it flow with the rest of your house, and are there plenty of available electrical outlets?
• Family: how does the space affect other members of the household, will you need greater privacy to meet with clients?

Find the Appropriate Equipment
After you’ve found the perfect plot, it’s time to plan your budget and invest in the right office equipment. Unsurprisingly, we’re big fans of adjustable height desks. You still get the same benefits from them at home as if you were in an office.

You’ll have the flexibility to sit, stand and move around with the touch of a button. This flexibility lessens the temptations that come with working in a home office space, like walking the dog or doing the laundry.

And the cable management system hides all wires and cords, so you can maintain the aesthetics of your home. More importantly, the customization option allows you to create the perfect desk for your home office space. An L-shape is ideal for at-home workers who need to utilize their home office space for a computer and for writing with pen and paper. And you’ll have plenty of room for a printer, files and organizational tools. If you have a limited work area in your home office space, that problem is quickly solved with the Xdesk Solo, a smaller version to accommodate tight spaces.

Head down to an office supply store to get everything else you need, like filing cabinets, extension cords and desk lamps. Which brings us to the next point – comfort.

Find a Level of Comfort
Your home office space is an area you’re going to spend a large amount of time, so you should create an environment that’s pleasant to be in.

We encourage standing throughout your day for better productivity and to keep the after lunch lethargy at bay, but don’t skimp on a comfortable office chair for those moments when you need to take a seat – an adjustable height desk is all about flexibility, after all.

It’s ideal to purchase an office chair for your home office space, instead of stealing a chair from the kitchen table. This keeps up the “office” feel, and today there are so many different styles of office furniture available, so you’re bound to find one that fits your home décor and your budget.

The right lighting is important for your home office space. It’s ideal to have natural or artificial lighting behind you to illuminate your work area and not cause a glare.

Try a few of these ideas for your home office space and let us know how it works!

The post How to Create a Home Office Space appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular. Invest in the Xdesk Solo to improve productivity at home.

Right now I am writing this post in sweatpants, a t-shirt, sun pouring in through my open door, and listening to the birds chirping outside. I haven’t brushed my hair today, I haven’t put on makeup, and I don’t plan to for another hour at least.

I’m working from home.

With the rapid rise in technology, what with email, Google Docs, teleconferencing, etc., working from home is becoming not only a more viable option, but a preferable one for many businesses all over the world.

In fact, studies show that working from home at least 1-3 days a week makes for healthier, happier, and more productive employees. It is a perfect option for someone (like me) who writes or does other computer-heavy task and doesn’t necessarily need to make face time in the office so much.

The only problem here is that at-home ergonomics are often not up to par.

In today’s post I thought I’d talk about things you can do to make your work-from-home time a bit more comfortable, more productive and healthier.

1) Get a standing or adjustable height desk. Many businesses are hopping on the standing or adjustable height desk train these days, but these benefits don’t need to be restricted to the walls of your office. You can get a standing or adjustable height desk for your home too. At Xdesk, there is a perfect solution: The Xdesk Solo. This is a smaller adjustable height desk, perfect for working from home.

2) Make your own standing/adjustable height desk. This isn’t as convenient as having an adjustable height desk that will move to your perfect height at the push of a button, but it is better than sitting down all day on your couch. After a day of sitting on my couch with my laptop on my lap, my shoulders and neck are in AGONY! After a day of standing at my makeshift standing desk, I can’t even tell I’ve been typing away all day.

3) Get an adjustable keyboard tray. If you already have a good standing or adjustable height desk, you might want to think about adding an adjustable keyboard tray to maximize your ergonomic benefits.

4) Add a monitor arm. Monitor arms are the accessory of the season—for your health! These will make it so that your monitor is at the exact right height, no matter what. They are adjustable, and the perfect complement for your adjustable height desk.

So if you’re working from home, think about getting an adjustable height desk, standing desk, or perhaps getting a little crafty and making your own. Believe me, your neck, shoulders, back (and energy, weight, and health overall!) will thank you for it.

Do you work from home some or all of the week? Do you use a standing or adjustable height desk? Comment below!

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