I love my London flat and working from home, but my office is a table in the corner of the sitting room which makes for a short (even lazy) commute and temptation not to switch off of an evening.
If you work outside the home, or have a home office it is easier to make that mental switch from work to home mode by physically leaving the building or room.
My solution is the Office in a Box. At the end of the day I pack my day to day stuff into a wicker basket that slides under the table. Clear table, work stuff hidden makes it easier to switch off and enjoy my down time. Once everything is stowed I’ll also go for a quick 5 minute walk round the block as if I were commuting.
My printer sits in a cupboard directly behind me and one of the best purchases I ever made was a 2m long printer cable so I can print from my desk and not crouch on the floor balancing the laptop precariously as I do so. If you do keep your printer in a cupboard please always switch it off when not in use – they get hot and need good ventilation.
What are your top tips for a home office in a small space?
A fabulous idea Helen. We live in a fairly tight living space, and I find I really do need to keep things in their place. Baskets and boxes can be found throughout our house. Our front room can be transformed from playroom, to lounge, to workspace. I also change the lighting to suite the mood. Night time when it’s my time, I put the lamp on and soften the room. It’s relaxing.
It is a good idea. I work from a study room, but I also use that room for relaxing and it’s easy for work to encroach. Intrigued to know how you organise your folders. What sort of things are in the ‘someday’ folder?
There is a post coming on this Erica. I have started using Dave Allen’s Getting Things Done system. Someday is stuff I want to do, but is not essential or has a deadline. Things ideas for the blog, places I want to visit, articles to pitch.
What a great idea!!
This is how I would like to work but simply don’t. If my cookery business ever takes off, I am in big trouble. Will be visiting you here for advice on office management!
Well of course I did not show the overflow Laura!