A Solopreneur's Guide to Creating a Home Office (And Staying Productive)

May 30, 2018

So you’ve decided once and for all to work from home. To be specific, you want to become a solopreneur. Nothing is more satisfying than becoming your own boss. Say goodbye to those hour-long commutes, piles of paper, and team lunches.

One of the basic things you need as a solopreneur is a workspace at home. In a previous blog post, I mentioned how solopreneurs get to travel and work from anywhere. But in this guide, let’s appreciate for a moment why a home office matters and how to make one for yourself in a way that will keep you productive.

Working from one spot... but why?

Even if you don’t see the need for a home office at the moment (because you can work from your kitchen table or at a coffee shop), setting up a home office space for yourself comes with a lot of advantages:

Keeps everything in one place - your home office is where you’ll access everything related to your solopreneur business. This includes books, whiteboard for ideas, and vlogging tools (if you’re into video).
Treat your business like a real business - Being self-employed somewhat gives you the feeling that you’re just a freelancer instead of a real business owner. Your mindset shifts by walking the talk. Also, you wouldn’t want a client of yours hearing meowing sounds or chattering background noise.
You’ll be taken more seriously - Actions speak louder than words. Staying in your home office rather than simply saying that you don’t want to be disturbed sends out a strong message to those who live with you.

Home Office Productivity Tips

Set it up for productivity.

I’ve seen the most beautiful home offices with huge glass windows and a view of nature. But while you can’t always have this kind of home office (because you live in an apartment or you can’t afford major renovations), you can design with productivity in mind.

Simple productivity ideas include painting your walls with a calming color, positioning your table and chair in an area that receives ample and natural light, and hanging an inspirational wall quote.

Invest in exercise equipment.

Exercise helps you stay productive by keeping your mind alert. One of the challenges of when you’re a solopreneur is getting enough movement. A piece of workout equipment like an elliptical, treadmill or a pair of dumbbells in your office allows you to use up those needed work breaks for health and fitness.

Don’t find opportunities for distraction.

We live in a world where we create our own distractions. We’re randomly checking emails, social media notifications, and text messages throughout the day. Respect your working hours so that you make the most of them. If you can, use a Pomodoro timer app to motivate you to stay focused on a task.

Create filing systems, use containers, and go paperless.

Can you imagine working in a cluttered environment? Keeping it organized and well-structured doesn’t only clear up your thoughts, it also saves time in finding important documents. Before you categorize items, throw away trash and eliminate anything that’s not related to your solopreneur business. Also, consider paperless solutions.

Final Thoughts

What does your home office and productivity look like? Have you started setting it up already? If you found this blog post helpful, share it on social media. :)