The ability to work from home is one of life’s great freedoms. It gives you the liberty to work to your own schedule and manage your own time. Not having to commute to an office saves you a great deal of time, money, and stress. Not to mention the benefits of avoiding office politics, bickering coworkers, and micromanaging bosses. Working remotely gives you a much better quality of life, and your mental wellbeing skyrockets as a result.

But to work successfully from home, it is essential that you have a suitable working space. When you work in an office, the conditions are already set up for optimum productivity. You have your own dedicated space with all the tools you need on hand, surrounded by other hard-working people focused on getting the job done. But at home, you have limited space, minimal tools, and constant distractions and interruptions. It is not always the best environment for completing difficult work.

To maximize your results when working from home, you’ll need to spend some time optimizing your work environment and creating a home office that works with you rather than against you. Here are four tips to help you achieve this goal.

Find the right space

You need your office to be a space without distractions, in which you can sit comfortably and be as productive as possible. The area you work in will depend on your home. It might be sitting at your kitchen table, the spare room, or you might even invest in a basement conversion to create the ideal workspace. Whichever way you do it, you need a dedicated home office if you want to work effectively. Simply lying on the sofa or sitting up in bed will not help you stay productive.

Invest in the right tools

Creating the perfect home office might require an initial investment to get things up and running. Technology is the key thing. You need a computer that works well and has all the tools and software you need to function. Stationery is also important, as well as storage solutions to keep all your equipment neat and tidy.

Prioritize comfort

Sitting at a desk for long hours plays havoc on your body, so it’s important your setup allows you to be as comfortable as possible. The critical piece of equipment to help you achieve this end is your chair. The most worthwhile investment you can make is to purchase an ergonomic office chair that enables you to maintain good posture and look after your back. Not only will this keep you comfortable and productive for longer, but it will also have tremendous benefits for your long term health.

Minimize distractions

The hardest thing about working from home is maintaining your focus. Especially when you have other family members at home. Be clear and upfront with other members of your household that 9 am to 5 pm is your working time, and you require utmost peace and quiet during these hours. Having some calming music playing while you work is an excellent way to block outside noise and focus your mind.