There is a growing number of residents out there who are required or choose to work from home whether it be for work or for school. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for getting the best results out of your apartment home office:
Normal Day- Whether you are working out of the apartment or getting ready to take a big test for your online class, treat these events just like you would if you were leaving the apartment and going to the classroom or the office. Get up early enough to have a good breakfast, take a good shower, and get dressed normally. You will be much more productive if you aren't lounging around in your Jammies at the computer. The more you can do to separate yourself from a "day off at home," the better your work environment will be.
Separate Room- This may be difficult to do in a small one bedroom apartment, but do what you can to separate your home office from the rest of your apartment. Your bedroom and living room are places of rest, so maybe setup the dining area as an office with a full size bookcase closing things off in a makeshift wall. Whatever it is, it is important to have a different space for where you work versus where you play.
Use Distractions As Rewards- If you find yourself getting distracted by your favorite show or a quick round of golf on the Playstation, turn it into a reward. Make a list of all of the things that you need to get done at the beginning of your day. Then set a point in which you can take a short 15 minute break to rest your mind if you complete those goals. Rather than using those things as a distraction, use them to reward yourself. You will soon find yourself working harder and getting tons done.
Lists- Making lists is IMPORTANT. Let me reiterate that last statement, "Making lists is IMPORTANT!!!" At the beginning of each work day, you should set yourself up with a To-Do list and check things off as you complete them. It feels good to be able to see your progress and can keep you on task.
There a ton of things that you can do to get the most out of working from the apartment, but if you keep these few things in mind, you should be able to get a ton of production out of diggin' in your digs.
