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Five Fun Ways to Open Up Your Home Office

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Comfortable workplace with modern computer on desk. Home office

Working from home is an exciting venture, but the initial interest may wear out quickly if your setup fails to suffice. After a few weeks (or even a few days!) you’ll get used to waking up at eight in the morning until five in the afternoon. Although, what makes a home office optimal is that you get to customize your space, which is not as feasible when you work in an office. If you’re in the El Paso area and you’re ready to take your home office to the next level, then Indoff Office Furniture can help. We’ve compiled five great tips that can turn your home office into your most productive space yet! 

Start With the Right Office Chair 

Whether you’re planning on using a standing desk from time to time or sitting at your computer screen all day, it is still in your best interest to look for the best office chair possible. There are a lot of options for you to choose from, but it’s important that you don’t purchase an office chair that is too comfortable. The more comfortable a chair is the more inclined you’ll be to slack off and possibly even fall asleep! With a more up-right and supportive chair, you’ll be able to tackle all of your tasks within the assigned time! 

Get a Durable and Sturdy Desk 

Modern office interior design with office chair and desk in front of windows. Workplace with laptop.

Your office desk is the seed that will help you grow ideas into tangible success. You can go all out with your desk or you could keep it light and simple. Whatever suits your needs is what matters most! It’s also important to not go overboard with a large desk because you might feel like you have too much space and not enough supplies to fill it with. For example, a large desk might give you space for a filing cabinet, but if you don’t find the need for one, then it’s nothing to worry about! You want a desk that fits your comfort and your work ethic, all in one. 

Create a Comfortable Light Setting 

Your home may have a dark and ambient light setting throughout each and every room, but this isn’t ideal for your home office. When creating your home office, it is important to make sure that you have enough light so you can stay focused on your work. If the room is too dimly lit, you might become drowsy or bored, thus becoming too distracted and fail to get any work done. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the setting has to be painfully bright, especially to the point where it can be headache-inducing! If you have a spare room where the sun spills in perfectly, then you can use this place as your home office. 

Personalize Your Space 

Modern home working place with laptop, stylish lamp and plant in pot over white wall background

One of the best things about working in a home office is the limitless possibilities you have available. You could add pictures of your friends and family, encouraging sticky-note messages, candles, and any other personal items that help you get through your workday! Make your home office your own so you’ll forward to working every day. This way, you won’t loath your working hours. 

Make Sure Your Work Zone is Free of Distraction 

Everyone works differently. Some people have to physically leave their homes, others may have an easier time working in the comfort of their homes. Even if working at home works out better for you, noise is inevitable. Noise will especially be prevalent if you have little ones that hit the TV and their toys as soon as they come home from school. Even if you are not the one generating the noise, it is still your responsibility to keep it down as much as possible. Additionally, if you don’t have to worry about children breaking into your office, it’s still a good idea to make sure your office is unreachable (obviously, except by you). This way, you won’t get distracted or bothered while working on that big project. If locking the door isn’t an option, you can let your family and household members know that you’ll be working and that volumes will need to stay low. 

Indoff Office Furniture: Making Your Dream Office a Reality 

The world of interior design for offices is full of great options. You don’t have to be a master in office design and decorating when you have Indoff Office Furniture to help and guide you! Give us a call or visit us today to take a look at what we have to offer.

Tips for Optimal Workplace Productivity

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woman being productive at workDo you find yourself taking work home, wondering why you couldn’t get done at work? So many of us do! The reality is — there are only so many hours in a day and time can easily get bogged down with small, often unproductive tasks. Being productive requires work. It requires strategic planning and most all, it requires discipline. It’s easy to arrive on time (or even early) and have your day’s plans get thrown out the window with one interruption, which often leads to another. By the time you know it, it’s 5 o’clock.

But being productive isn’t necessarily a science. There are small but effective changes you can begin applying that will cut down five minutes then ten, 20, and eventually, you will find yourself with an extra hour to accomplish those tasks you’ve put off for a lack of time.

Here are 7 effective strategies to being more productive at work that you can easily begin applying today:  

1- Track Your Time

Do you know how long you spend in the break room getting coffee each morning? What about the time it takes to send out emails to your staff or replying to those emails? If you’re not currently tracking your time, it’s time to start today! Estimates don’t count. And if you’re thinking won’t tracking my time take time? It will only take TWO MINUTES out of your entire day to track what you’re working on every 30 minutes. We suggest starting off with the 30-minute interval. This way you can get into the habit of checking in with yourself every 30 minutes. Once you get used to jotting down what it is you’re working on, you can extend it to an hour or every time you change tasks. There are tools like Rescue Time that make it easier to track specific tasks including checking email, talking to coworkers, going to the bathroom, and meeting with clients, all of which make up your entire day.

2- Always Take Breaks

Okay now you’re probably thinking so in addition to tracking my time, you want me to take breaks? The simple answer is yes. While it sounds counterintuitive, taking breaks will help improve your concentration. Keep in mind, these breaks should be short. You also don’t want to take too many frequent breaks. Rather, every 90 minutes take a small productive break. What do we mean by productive? We mean, grab some coffee, go to the bathroom, stretch, take a “smoker’s break” even if you don’t smoke. Essentially you want to use this time to step away from work and reconnect with how you’re feeling. Give your eyes a screen break and your body a reboot.

3- Place Deadlines on Yourself

Ah, deadlines. Whether you love or hate them, deadlines help us stay on pace and they give us the right type of stress. By setting self-imposed deadlines on yourself, you’ll be able to stay focused on what needs to be accomplished and by when. Deadlines will also give you the ability to visualize a finish line. In return, your time will be planned out. Many people are surprised at how self-imposed deadlines force them into mini-athletes where it’s them vs. time. Be realistic about how long tasks should take and also don’t afraid to challenge yourself to some more strict deadlines.   

4- Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking can essentially decrease productivity. How is that so? It’s been found that multitasking results in lost time because people cannot devote their energy to competing tasks. For example, the old cliche and driving while putting on your makeup. This can easily result in an accident. There are some tasks that can be done in unison but you want to make sure they don’t compete with one another. For example, while you can’t put on makeup and look at the road, you can drive and mentally plan out your day or visualize what it is your day will entail. Remember to remain positive about it. Visualize being the most productive possible.   

5- Minimize Interruptions

Interruptions are inevitable but do your best to let others know that what you’re working on is time-sensitive. When your colleagues respect your time, they’re less likely to interrupt you. If you have your own office, close the door to tackle those projects. You also want to consider mapping out your time to meet with people. Resist the temptation to give away your time as this often leads to staying late in an effort to make up for it or taking work home.

6- Stay Motivated and Determined

Motivation is the key to all of these tips. You know yourself and you know your work habits. Add in determination and you’ll see that work is feasible. Don’t allow feelings of worry to take over. Even if you know something may not get done “on time,” knowing it needs to be accomplished, just get to work on it! Eliminate all feelings of doubt and productivity will follow.

7- Keep Your Energy Level High

Once you have time management down, it’s all about your energy. Your energy level is essential to not only remaining productive at work but also outside of work. We’re not robots. We require exercise, connecting with friends and family, and doing the things that motivate us. Where does your source of energy come from? It may be your morning run, a 10-minute meditation, or a mid-day walk. No matter how you get energized, make sure to prioritize these rituals. They matter your mind and body.

“Action Expresses Priorities.” — Gandhi

How you choose to spend your time says a lot about who you are and what your goals are. We are given the same hours in a day but how we spend those hours will determine our legacy. What do you want your legacy to be?

Create An Affordable Office Space With Blended Projects

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office furnitureProviding a comfortable and inviting office space can make all the difference for your employees. By providing the right surroundings you can increase productivity, team collaborations, and even satisfaction. However, a drab office can have exactly the opposite effects too. It is no wonder that many companies spend a great deal of time and money researching office space layouts and furniture. When it comes to creating the right workspace the budget can make or break the mood. At Indoff Commercial Interiors, Kim Gregory can help you design an amazing office floorplan and design using both new and pre-owned office furniture. A blended project will help you save money while still getting great quality furniture.

Choose the Right Pre-Owned Office Furniture

When it comes to buying pre-owned office furniture for your workspace it is important to choose the right items. Desks, hutches, bookcases, and credenzas are great items to look for pre-owned. They retain their value and generally don’t get too much wear and tear. Most offices employ janitorial services so you can rest easy knowing that they will most likely come very clean as well.

Buying pre-owned cubicles is a great way to save on your budget as well. Pre-owned cubicles typically cost much less than new and come in near new condition. You can also find a wide variety of designs and sizes. Whether you need full privacy or an open floor plan you will be able to get what you are looking for.

Some Office Furniture is Better New

The key to creating a successful blended project is finding the right items new and the right items pre-owned. One piece of furniture you always want to opt for new is chairs. When you have employees that work at a full-time job sitting in front of a computer for extended periods, you want to make sure they are comfortable. Investing in high-quality new chairs is a great way to ensure your employees will be happy. Skimping out on chairs can lead to back problems, bad posture, and even headaches.

Buying Pre-Owned Office Furniture

If you are on a tight budget and still want to provide the best for your employees be sure to contact Kim Gregory at Indoff Commercial Interiors. She will not only help you shop for the right items but will help you design a functional and comfortable workspace. With over 27 years of experience, you can be sure that she understands a thing or two about great office design to promote efficiency and comfort.

3 Ways the Right Office Furniture Can Improve Productivity

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modern office with nice office furnitureChoosing office furniture has become an art form over the past few years. However, creating the right office space isn’t just about aesthetics and budget anymore. It is possible to create a workplace that fosters creativity, productivity, and efficiency while giving employees privacy. At Indoff we understand the importance of providing your employees what they need to succeed. It is important to remember that your employees’ comfort and happiness directly correlate with how well they perform their jobs. These office furniture and setup tips can help you create a great work environment for your employees, so your business can continue to be successful.

Open Floor Plans Offer More Interaction

When an office space is planned with an open floor plan, employees are more likely to interact and share ideas. For a company that requires collaboration between departments, office furniture that lends well to the open floor concept will work much better. Cubicles with shorter walls are a good option for this. For those that like to push the limits, connected workspaces may work best in their office. Whatever your goals are, be sure to pick out furniture that and create a floor plan that aligns with your goals, your employees’ job requirements, and the desired environment you want for your office.

Choose Cubicles for More Privacy

If you are in an industry that requires lots of concentration and focus, office furniture with cubicles is a better option. The added privacy gives each employee the space and freedom to work on projects without interruption. You can also find cubicles in new or used options. You can look at your budget and decide what is worth splurging on and what would be better to buy used, but in the end, buying what’s best for your employees is your best option.

Standing Desks and Better Chairs

When you give your employees comfort and versatility, they will not have to overcome the added obstacle of discomfort. Ergonomic chairs, standing desks, desks with plenty of room, and footrests can all ensure your employees are comfortable enough to tackle the work day. Standing desks, in particular, can help your employees be more productive because switching positions and taking the energy you need to stand can both get the creative juices flowing.

Office Furniture from Indoff Commercial Interiors

At Indoff Commercial Interiors, we carry a variety of office furniture, ranging from quality desks to ergonomic chairs, that can make your office the best place to work. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help you!