Evaluate
Just because it’s an office doesn’t necessarily mean you need everything a standard office uses. Depending on what you do, you may need a desktop computer with two monitors or you may need a printer on a cart that has spring loaded casters so it can easily be rolled out when you need it. However, don’t get a printer if you don’t need it, and don’t worry about the massive monitors if all you need is a laptop.
Eliminate
While there are times when organized clutter can seem productive, ultimately, a messy desk can be distracting and downright detrimental. If you need an inbox of sorts on one side of your desk and some pens and a container of sticky notes on the other, that’s fine. Just don’t pile everything on the desk. You need space to think and space to work.
Dedicate
Once you have set aside a (relatively) quiet area of your home for your workspace, you need to try to keep it dedicated to that function. Don’t fold laundry on your desk or use your monitor to watch your favorite show at night. Keeping your office separate from the rest of your house can help you state motivated and productive.
Separate
In that vein, keep your work life distinct from your home life. Don’t mix business expenses with household expenses and maintain a separate space for business records. Particularly for tax deductions, keep everything split up. You can only claim the space you use solely for your business when tax time arrives.
Having a home office can be great. Just make sure you take the time to get organized or at least get reorganized now so you are working efficiently.
