You hear a lot about work-life balance. But for guys who spend their 9-to-5 at home, work-life boundaries may be just as important, indicates a new study from the U.K.
If you live and work in the same place, it's easy for your family or private matters to seep into your professional life--and vice versa. But erecting physical barriers that separate your job space from the rest of your house can help you concentrate and stay on-task, the study suggests.
"Creating a boundary helps you focus on your job during work time by limiting distractions," explains Vanessa Okken, who researches environmental psychology at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. "It also prevents you from constantly feeling the need to work or worrying about work issues in your free time."
If you have an office or spare room you can set aside for work, that's ideal. Just remember: It's essential to reserve that space for work only, Okken stresses. Try not to bring utility bills, private mail, or any stuff related to your private life into that space, she advises. It will interfere with your job and blur the lines between your professional and personal responsibilities.
If space constraints force you to set up shop at a kitchen table or living room desk, putting up some type of divider or screen during business hours erects a "psychological boundary" between your work and private lives, Okken says. Taking the shield down at the end of the day will also help you disconnect in your off-hours, she says.
Here are a few more keys to creating the ideal home office space:
Work near a window. By helping to calibrate your body's natural circadian rhythms, exposure to natural light--especially in the morning--boosts your daytime energy levels 35 percent, according to research from Northwestern University. It can also improve your sleep, the research shows.
Choose the right color< /strong>. Painting your home office walls red or filling that space with red-hued accessories can improve your attention to detail, shows a study from the University of British Columbia. Your brain is programmed to associate red with danger. And so surrounding yourself with the color triggers an "avoidance motivation" state that heightens your ability to focus on detail-oriented tasks like accounting or editing, the study authors say. On the other hand, the color blue is calming, and so stokes your creativity by putting your mind at ease, the same study found.
Adjust your thermostat. If your workspace is too hot or too cool, you'll have a hard time concentrating, finds a study from China and Denmark. And while some people will be more comfortable toiling in a slightly warmer or colder environment, 70 degrees is the average ideal temp for max productivity, reveals Chinese research.
Banish the boob tube. Television is one of the top 10 distractions for people who work from home, finds a study commissioned by Regus, a company that offers virtual and remote workspace solutions. Along with avoiding interruptions from pets, family members, or the call of the dishwasher or washing machine, keeping clear of a TV is one of the best ways to stay focused on your work, the study shows.
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