Working from home has lots of advantages, but there are a few drawbacks as well. Many online business owners find themselves frequently distracted by household demands or interrupted by family noise when they’re trying to work. Creating a home office space that cuts down on distractions and allows you to work without interruption is a must. If it’s time to update your office space, here are a few things to consider.

• Choose a space that’s away from the main traffic flow of your house

The common areas of your home like the kitchen or the living room are naturally going to be the busiest and noisiest. If you can carve out office space in an area that’s a bit more secluded, you’re less likely to be disturbed. Consider upstairs bedrooms, bonus rooms, or even converting your garage for your business headquarters.

• Keep your office organized

Don’t let your workspace become cluttered and messy. Schedule regular clean-up days to go through papers and online files and toss what you don’t need. Keeping your office space organized increases your efficiency and productivity and helps you avoid wasting time looking for things.

• Set working hours with your family

One of the hardest parts of working from home is keeping your family (especially kids) from interrupting you during business hours. You have to set your working hours and insist that your family not disturb you unless it’s a true emergency. Having childcare for after school hours can be incredibly helpful. If that’s not an option, you might benefit from setting your working hours to begin earlier and end when your kids get home. Or you could divide your workday by working during school hours and tying up loose ends once your kids are in bed.

• Put your desk in a distraction-free zone

A window with a lovely view is great, but if you find yourself repeatedly distracted by neighborhood activity, it might not be the best place for your desk. When you’re arranging your office, position your desk in a spot where you’ll be able to focus on work, not on your neighbors.

• Invest in good noise-canceling headphones

No matter how organized your office is you’ll still face times that the noise of family life creeps into your workspace. On days like that, noise-canceling headphones will be your best friend! You’ll be able to concentrate on your work no matter how much chaos is happening outside your office door.

If you want to increase your efficiency in your home office, talk to SophieZo! She has the experience to advise you, and a team of online business managers and virtual assistants to keep your business on track and thriving. Book a call today!