Working from home has become a popular trend for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and even employees. As a result, your home office is at the heart of your everyday activities. Not only does it provide your home with a professional function, but it also serves as a centre of inspiration, creativity, and productivity. At least, that’s what the theory says. In practice, however, many home-based professionals struggle to make it work. The home office, which they hope would be a supportive ally in their quest to success, fails to deliver the expected results.

Does it mean it’s time for you to ditch the home office and find a new solution? Not so quickly! Working remotely can be tricky. Despite your best efforts, you might still be making costly mistakes that affect your productivity day after day. Indeed, the question is not how your home office is failing, but how you are failing to make the most of it.

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You don’t plan your day like a real office day

Working from home gives you more flexibility to manage your time. However, it’s essential to structure your day in the same way you would if you were working in an office. Indeed, just because you’re working from a different place doesn’t mean that it should dramatically upset your traditional work routine. As a rule of thumb, you’ll find that maintaining your structure and habits can help you to move quickly through tasks. Indeed, a change of environment can be disorienting – and even though some claim that changing their workplace regularly contributes to enhancing their creativity, it’s not always the case. Therefore, maintaining your usual approach to tasks planning can ensure a smooth change.

Your indoor air is stuffy
Here’s an interesting question: How often do you renew your indoor air? It might sound strange at first, but offices have an indoor ventilation system that ensures the air you breathe is renewed continuously. Not many households, however, have a similar system in place. Instead, most people rely on manual ventilation, such as opening the windows. But, if you can’t focus with your windows open, you might want to have a look at the www.ModernFanOutlet.com site to consider the addition of a ceiling fan. Indeed, a fan will provide air movement, which ensures your brain receives plenty of oxygen. Why does it matter? Oxygen is a natural brain performance boost! Your thought process gets slow in a stuffy room.

You don’t account for breaks

When you work from home, you might feel guilty at the idea of scheduling breaks. Ultimately, you might worry that taking breaks becomes an act of laziness. But you’d be wrong to think so. According to www.SocialTriggers.com, the prefrontal cortex is the thinking part of your brain. It is responsible for your focus and logical thinking. The prefrontal cortex needs regular breaks to let the brain recharge its energy and make further cognitive connections. In short, taking a break makes you a better thinker. You can’t go on forever without allowing yourself to leave the desk regularly and refresh your mind. More importantly, refusing to take breaks affects your productivity and concentration.

You work in the middle of the living room

What you call your home office is, in fact, the corner of the sofa. You work in your lounge, with a laptop balancing on the armrest. Unfortunately, you are surrounded by distractions that slow down your work. Your favourite show on TV is only one click away – and, let’s be honest, the remote controller is so easy to use that you might not even notice you’re using it. Additionally, if you’re staying at home with your children or partner, they may be more likely to interrupt you as you appear to be available. How can you be working if you’re sitting on a couch or at the kitchen table? Instead, a home office offers a dedicated desk that serves no other functions that supporting your day-to-day work.

You feel isolated

Sure, working from home can be beneficial is you don’t like to be interrupted or distracted by coworkers. However, it’s also an isolating experience that cuts you off from social contact. At home, you can’t build any meaningful human interactions. If you’re a social butterfly, you may miss the constant buzz of the office conversations and the chance to grab lunch with colleagues. Feeling isolated, however, can rapidly escalate into a mild form of depression, which can not only put your performance at risk but your mental health too.

The problem with the home office is your approach. Indeed, you need to create a strategic work routine that suits you when you’re at home. But at the same time, you also need to make room for breaks and social interactions throughout the day.