One of the biggest challenges freelance writers face relates to setting up their home office to stimulate their writing. The world of work has changed dramatically since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. As writers are forced to spend more time at home, they struggle to organize their space and time. Luckily, as a freelance writer, you can at least choose the country you can call your home. However, many writers are searching for ways to optimize their creative output. And we all know creativity is in tight connection with how you set up your home office. For this reason, we will talk about ways you can use the space in your home and turn it into a home office.
The home office has to provide peace and quiet
Firstly, it is important to find a writing spot in your home as peaceful as possible. This can be challenging when you live with other people or if you have kids. When you write, you need to be able to focus on your thought processes. If you cannot find a quiet place, you can make up for it with quality earphones or earplugs. What matters is that you can write there without being disturbed or distracted. Once you find this, you are set up for success – you just have to settle a few more details. Let’s see what they are.
Set a budget
The second step is to determine an approximate budget you are willing to invest in the home office. Having a clear-cut budget helps immensely, as it allows you to think realistically. It also allows you to prioritize your needs and spend the allocated money accordingly. In other words, it will keep you from going off the rails during an IKEA sale. The temptation to buy scented candles, designer shelves, or colorful folders can be strong. However, you need to keep in mind that there is much more that you need to buy in order to set up your home office.
Of course, you do not have to set aside too much money for a fully functional home office. Be sure to check out Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or local flea markets. Don’t shy away from buying used items, as you can score high-quality furniture and accessories for a fraction of their retail cost.
If you are starting from scratch and don’t have anything except your laptop, you should set aside at least $500 to be able to furnish your office.
What if I don’t have a room large enough for a home office?
You will be amazed when you realize what a little decluttering can achieve. Right now, you might think you need a lot of space to have an office that will stimulate you to write. However, it is not necessarily the size of the room that determines the functionality of a writing space. It is actually the vibe and the tidiness of the room. Or the corner of the room, if that is the space you have at your disposal. In that sense, the closet or corner where you store your extra belongings could be easily transformed into a home office, if you declutter and eliminate everything unnecessary. You can call a friend to help you declutter it in no time and set up a home office that will be just as good as any library, co-working space, or office space out there. If not better.
Do not cut corners when buying the home office chair
The desk you will be using does not have to be anything fancy, as long as all of your electronics, books, and folders can fit on top of it. You should also be able to adjust it to fit your height. The standard desk height is around 30 inches from the floor.
However, the chair has to provide enough support for your back and neck. You probably spend more than 6 hours at a time writing every day. Your posture will deteriorate very quickly if you do not have adequate support. So, dining room chairs won’t do. You need a chair that provides lumbar support, has armrests, and is comfortable for your tush. Optionally, you can get the classic office chair that can swerve.
Choose a good monitor and keyboard
If you want to maximize your writing output, you might consider investing in technology that will allow you to do that. So, the bulk of your home office spending should go towards acquiring a laptop or PC with a monitor that you can look at for hours at a time. Outdated monitors can damage your eyesight.
So be sure to treat yourself to protective glasses at the very least. Different writers like different monitor sizes. Therefore, there are no hard and fast rules prescribing monitor size. However, anything smaller than 24 inches might make writing difficult. Just make sure you keep it at least 20 inches away from your face, preferably in a way that allows you to look at it straight from your seat, without having to look up or down.
Aside from the monitor, the keyboard is another tool of your trade. Depending on your preferences, you could go for an old-school type-writer kind of keyboard that allows you to type without ever having to look at the keyboard. There are plenty of keyboard options out on the market – wired or wireless. If you don’t mind charging it regularly, go for a wireless keyboard.
All in all, these are the basic steps that should help set up your home office for your writing. Once you have your office in place, your writing will improve noticeably! So, don’t skimp, as having a dedicated writing space definitely pays off in the long run.
