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Top Tips for Creating Your At-Home Business Office

These days, many people are choosing to work from home instead of in a busy office building. Often, they’ll telework a couple of days a week, and sometimes, they’re running their own remote business from home. And for many people working from home, it’s essential to have an at-home business office. Not only because it’s great to have a space that’s designed with work in mind, but also because it can have benefits such as tax deductions. If you’re thinking of creating your own at-home business office, there are some strategies you should use to be as effective as possible–while saving money, too.

To learn more about how to best create this space, read on.

1. Get Rid of Distractions

Many people who work at home, such as at-home mothers or people who are constantly having guests over, might end up getting distracted when they’re trying to get some work done. Sometimes, distractions come from within: if you’re a music blogger who’s also a musician, keeping your guitar where you get office work done is going to end up with you songwriting instead of finishing up that interview with last night’s band. The same goes for the decorations in your workspace. Keep it as simple as possible, so that you’ve just got a desk, a few pens, and the tech you need for work.

And of course: turn off your phone. If you need it for work, use an app to block apps such as Facebook and Instagram so that you aren’t tempted to check in with friends on social media. Considering that, in 2017, people spent an average of over four hours a day on their smartphones, you’ll need to make some serious changes to stay off of your phone. You may also have to do the same with your laptop, blocking out distracting websites.

2. Plan–and Stay Productive

One of the biggest challenges facing people who work from home is that it’s easy to get off track. That’s why it’s so important to stick to a schedule. Plan your work as far in advance as possible and keep track of it in a calendar, putting in days off, too. Otherwise, you run the risk of becoming burnt out. If you find yourself having trouble with motivation, then use a productivity strategy such as the Pomodoro Method or going out for a run before lunch. If you aren’t sure what makes you most productive, try out some of these hacks recommended by CNBC.

Regular work-at-home, among the non-self-employed, grew by 140 percent from 2005 to 2018, so you’re sure to find some productivity strategies that work for you.

3. Be Aware of Tax Deductions

When you’re working from home, you can save a lot of money with tax deductions. According to TurboTax, “If your home office is used exclusively and regularly for business purposes, you may be able to deduct a portion of your home-related expenses, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance and some utilities.” If you’re also self-employed, there might be other deductions you can benefit from.

Meet with an accountant to learn more, especially if you’re new to working from home. 82 percent of telecommuters reported lower stress levels, so keep it that way by hiring someone to do your taxes for you. You’ll save time and money.

4. Spend Time with Others, Outside of your Office

Finally, don’t forget to leave the house! Otherwise, you’re going to go a little stir crazy. Go to your office a couple of times a week if you’re a telecommuter for a larger office-based company; if you’re a freelancer, work at cafes or coworking spaces some of the time. Forge friendships at places like the gym and your local library. And don’t forget the value of going to networking events. This will keep you from feeling alone in the remote work world, and will also help you make business connections.

It’s important to establish self-care such as socializing or listening to a podcast in the morning before work so that you still feel connected to the world when you’re working from home (if you’re not familiar, you can discover what a podcast is in simple terms here). As of 2018, 3.9 million Americans worked from home at least half the week–so you’ll definitely find some other people working from home who’ll want to meet outside of working hours.

By following these strategies, you’ll be able to have an at-home business office that’s affordable and helps you be productive. That’s key to your long-term success. What strategies do you use to stay productive when working from home?

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