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While many of us are working from home more, it’s important to be able to separate your personal space and your office space. Having two separate areas allow you to focus when it is time to work, and leave it all behind when you hit the long commute to your couch. AFN has some tips to help you get started.

1. Location: You'll likely spend many hours in your home office, so don't stiff yourself on space in a cramped area. Also, consider the amount of foot traffic coming through your area. Can you handle the noise of home, or do you need something quieter to focus.
2. Functionality: Your desk, shelves and storage should serve you, not the other way around. Consider your workflow and what items you need at your fingertips before investing in furniture, make sure it is functional.
3. The right seat: If you’re going to be putting a lot of hours sitting in a chair, make sure it supports you. The wrong chair can lead to back problems down the road. If a proper office chair is out of your budget, try added some cushion to help you out. Don’t forget, getting up to stretch and take a break is important!
4. Make The Space Yours: If you’re decorating your desk back at the office with personal touches, do the same at home. Make it comfortable for you, creative, anything that will help boost your productivity. Wrap your bulletin board in a gorgeous fabric, and hide utilitarian bookshelves behind curtains made from the same material. Hang inspirational prints on the walls.
5. Maximize Storage: Hang floating shelves on the walls to get papers and office equipment off the desk, and use vertical file folders on the desk to keep important papers within arm's reach. Are you a stacker or a filer? If you tend to make piles, get a nice basket to tame your mail, notes and papers. Make the most of the space you have!
6. Shine a Light: Here's a bright idea: make sure your office has plenty of light to cut down on eye strain and headaches. Position the computer monitor so there's no glare from a window or overhead light, and put a small lamp on the desk for task lighting.

Team AFN is here for you! Stay safe and healthy.