The more efficient you are, the more effective you are.  That’s true whether you’re working from the office or from home.

Fortunately, most office environments lend themselves to being efficient, so there’s probably not much you need to do on that front. So, the tips below are aimed mostly at those who are working from home.

Having said that, if you want to try and squeeze out a bit more efficiency from your office setup, you can certainly apply these ideas there too!

1 – A second monitor

One thing that’s true about modern work life is that it’s complicated.  On any given day, depending on what you do for a living, you need to access a stunning range of online resources.  So many in fact, that it can be a little overwhelming.

The advent of tabbed browsing has helped somewhat. However, if you find yourself having to access your email system, several locations on your company’s network, and several online applications during  a typical workday, having a second monitor can be a real lifesaver.  Consider it a matter of “dividing and conquering” digital style.

2 – Remove distractions

This is a big one for anyone working from home.  Most offices are inherently designed to minimize distractions. If you’re working from home and have decided to set up shop at the kitchen table, you could find your work day to be absolutely riddled with distractions.

Far better than the kitchen table would be a seldom used spare room if you have one.  A place you can go and shut the door as needed so you can focus on the task at hand.  If that’s not possible, then communication with and understanding from your family is key so they know that when you’re working, you’re working.

3 – A visually interesting space

Our minds don’t tolerate monotony and drudgery very well.  Most people need at least a splash of color to make a space visually interesting to work at something close to peak efficiency.

That will take different forms for different people.  Some might be enchanted by the idea of a small deskside plant.  Others will want a visually interesting picture on the wall or on their desk.  Find your thing.  Find that component that puts your mind at ease and add it to your work environment.  You’ll be amazed at the results!

Efficiency is as much about organization as it is a state of mind.  Both of those elements need to be working in tandem if you want to maximize your efficiency and your productivity.

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