One of the best things about freelancing is having the freedom to work from home. Homeworking has numerous benefits, perhaps most notably saving you money on office rent, commuting, and expensive lunches in the city. But some freelancers are easily distracted when they work from home. And with so many distractions and demands on your time and attention, it’s easy to see why. In this post, we share some top tips on how to successfully set up your home office space so you aren’t easily distracted, and you can work as a successful freelancer.

Designate your space. 

One of the most common mistakes freelancers make is not designating a home working space. They think that working from home means working literally anywhere within the house, be it the bedroom, living room, or garden seating area. But designating a specific space for your work is vitally important. It’s a place for you to go in your home that is specifically for work and for no other purpose. This encourages you to be disciplined and ensures you can separate your home life from your work life.

Remove distractions. 

Distractions at home are plentiful. Whether it’s Netflix, your social media apps, or your new PlayStation 5, staying on task while working from home can be tough. But the best way to keep focused is to remove as many distractions as you can from your workspace. Your office should only include the necessary devices to assist with your daily tasks. The fewer distractions you house in your home office, the easier it is to remain focused on your work.

Keep it free from clutter. 

Clutter makes it hard to focus on your task at hand. If your desk is full of old utility bills, scraps of paper from projects gone wrong, and back edition magazines and comic books, it can be nigh on impossible to retain focus. Keep your desk free from papers and have a system for filing your important documents and bills. If you’re able to keep your workspace clutter-free, you will find it much easier to be productive.

Set some ground rules. 

It might seem a little like overkill to set some office ground rules when you’re the only one working there, but it’s actually an effective way to hold yourself to account when working. Here are some examples that you might consider applying to your home office space:

• No checking of social media apps during your regular work schedule.
• No watching TV, Netflix, or playing video games in the office.
• Take a regular 5-10-minute break to go outside, get some fresh air, and recharge your batteries.
• Keep your desk tidy and free from paperwork.

You will find that setting some office ground rules will increase your discipline and work creativity. It will also enable you to establish a thorough homeworking routine and keep personal and family matters free from your work life.

Know your work schedule. 

As a freelancer, you can technically work whichever hours you like. Perhaps you’re a night owl and feel most productive when everyone else has gone to bed? Or maybe you’re fairly conventional and try and get most of your work done while the kids are at school? Whatever your desired work schedule is, you must be sure to articulate it and try to stick to it where possible. Just because you can work whenever you like, it doesn’t mean you should. If you don’t follow a specific routine, it can be difficult to stay on top of your projects. This can result in missed deadlines and unhappy clients, something you will certainly hope to avoid. By dedicating a particular timeframe each day that you should be in your office, it will help you to stay focused on your projects and manage your time well.

Add some personal touches. 

Although mess is to be avoided at all costs, be sure to decorate your home office with some personal touches. Family photos, custom wall art, and small indoor plants make great additions to your home office space. It makes your office space much more attractive and encourages you to stay motivated for the duration of your workday.

Furnish it appropriately. 

When it comes to furnishing your home office, treat it like you would any other room in the house! While some people just make do with what’s leftover from other rooms when putting together their study, we would advise you to take care and furnish your home office appropriately. Pick up an appropriately sized desk, a comfortable chair, and a storage unit for your things. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on fancy new furniture, either. You can pick up lots of great items from goodwill stores and upcycle them to suit your personal style.

Closing thoughts. 

In order to make the most of your life as a freelancer, it’s important to dedicate an appropriate space at home that can be your office. It should be a space that’s appropriate, free from distractions, and somewhere that you know you can be productive. Failing to allocate yourself a home workspace can cause you to be unproductive, which is far from ideal for budding freelancers.