Working from home may sound like the best deal ever. “Just think of all the time you’ll save not having to sit in traffic every morning” “You’ll be able to spend quality time with your kids” “You’ll be so much more productive without the distractions of the office” “Working in your pajama’s - Lucky you”. The truth is, working from home comes with its challenges and is not always as productive as office-based work. I’ve put together the following tips to help entrepreneurs and other home-based people get the most out of their offices and have the most productive days possible.

GET UP AND DRESSED

While the thought of getting up and throwing on sweats, or even hanging out in your pj’s, sipping your morning coffee while checking emails on your phone may sound like a chilled way to start the day, it’s not the best habit to keep. Your home office (a kitchen table, or a quiet corner with a desk) is still your office. Treat it as such. You wouldn’t arrive at work in your pajamas or without brushing your hair or teeth. Set your alarm, get up, get dressed in your best and get going. Be prepared to meet a new client at the drop of a hat. Create your company image and stick to it.

SCHEDULE AND ROUTINE

Set office hours and stick to them like you would if you were in a traditional office space. Entrepreneurs long for discipline and routine. Do yourself a favor and create one. Choose the days and times you spend working on marketing your business and social media and when you see clients. Set up a time to spend with suppliers and time spent networking. Don’t forget to schedule time for actual work. If you have kids at home, plan time to spend with them. You may want to have lunch together to have a meaningful conversation about their day before going back to work. Discipline and planning are critical to maintaining a schedule.

CREATE YOUR SPACE AND RESPECT IT

You don’t have to have a fully kitted out, private home office. What you need, is a dedicated space to work. If space is tight, create a mobile office that you can set up and pack away easily. Keep everything you need in one place to help you focus as you start your day.

START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Make sure you have a comfortable place to work. Office desks and ergonomically perfect chairs are the ideas, but a small desk or kitchen table will suffice. You’ll also need a bookshelf and filing solution to keep any documents safe. Other things you’ll need to be as productive as possible are a phone with a good signal, internet connectivity, a printer (this will save time and money in the long run), and a supply of your favorite often used stationary. If you are like me, you’ll also want to have coffee and water close by. Not having to head to the kitchen to top up your cup helps reduce distractions and limits time outside the office.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

Working from home can be lonely. Don’t compound it by sitting in a dreary room facing a wall. Wherever possible, try to set up your office so that you can see the outside world. A space that is filled with sunshine makes going to work that much easier. If you can't find a room with a view, fill your office with art or plants. If you have no other option but to face the wall while you work, a strategically placed mirror can give you a view and let some light in. Water and air are critical to all living things. This applies to your home office. Open windows to let the air circulate. Take a break, sip on some lemon or cucumber water and take a deep breath.

CREATE YOUR CULTURE

Dressing for success every day is step one in your setup. Creating a vibe for your office that matches this will also help you stay focussed. Decide what your culture is, what it looks like, smells like, and sounds like. Think about your best working environment and build your own at home. Decide if you listen to music (NO TV) or not. Do you have a signature scent for your office? What’s your ideal office temperature? Do you keep fresh flowers? How do you answer the phone? What’s your e-mail etiquette? What are your daily start-up and shutdown rituals? All of these will help you get going and shut down at the end of each day while building on your productivity and professionalism.

The most important thing about any home office is that it works for you. It has to be a space that you enjoy going to and that motivates you to get it done. If you can’t find this at home, you may want to consider services offices or other focussed spaces like quiet rooms at your public library.

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