Author: New Dawn PA

Five Ways a Financial Advisor can use a VA

New Dawn PA-five ways a financial advisor can use a VA

Do you have the resources and time that you need to stay on top of all the admin related to your role as a financial advisor? If the answer is ‘no’ a virtual assistant could be what you need. Below I’ll share five ways a financial advisor can use a VA for support.

For small businesses or sole traders, finding the time to complete admin tasks on top of the day-to-day demands of being a financial advisor can be tricky.

But a virtual assistant can offer exactly the help that you need, without committing to taking on an additional member of staff.

Keeping track of paperwork and daily admin tasks can prove to be incredibly stressful when you are busy, and it is all too easy to overlook – or completely forget – those small but important jobs that are essential to running a business.

Five ways a financial advisor can use a VA

The skills and flexibility that a VA brings to your business will allow you to pick and choose the help that you need to support you with a variety of work. Here are just five ways a financial advisor can use a VA.

1. Creating letters

Good communication is at the heart of all well-run businesses. Whether keeping customers in the loop, reaching out to potential clients, handling complaints, confirming accounts or reaching out to other companies and organisations, sometimes it needs to be put in writing. A written record is important to you as a financial advisor and to your clients – and is very often integral to compliance needs.

Letter writing can swallow up your time though. A trusted VA will get the details down accurately and get letters sent out on time

2. Review processes

Are you running your business as efficiently as possible? Streamlining and managing work processes can take the stress out of daily tasks and cut down on the amount of time taken to complete jobs. Filing, onboarding clients and managing data are just a few examples of where a good process can take the pain out of a task. With a host of software available to support better processes, a VA can analyse the processes you have in place and suggest – and implement – improvements, or even introduce new processes

3. Ensure paperwork is compliant

Industry compliance is so important for a financial advisor and minor oversights in dealing with paperwork can cause a major headache further down the line if not dealt with. A VA can work with you to make sure all paperwork is complaint to industry standards, helping you to ensure best practice.

4. Additional support

Do you ever wish there was someone you could just run something by? Say, if you’re unsure of the tone of an email, feel like something is missing, need a quick proofread of a document or to talk through a social media campaign. Working alone can be a challenge, or it could be that you just want a different take from your existing team. A VA will bring a wide range of experience to the job and will be able to listen to your ideas and be there with the support we all need at times.

5. Getting organised

Organisation is the secret to a well-run business. You might be one of those people who is naturally organised with everything where it should be just when you need it, but you might also be struggling under a pile of unanswered letters and face a desperate search through your computer’s haywire filing system every time you need to find a document.

A VA can get your processes, files, and even that overflowing inbox under control to give you clarity of mind and focus once more. Offering ongoing support or as a one-off project, excellent organisation should be second nature to a virtual assistant.

Choose a VA to support your business

With a strong set of skills, excellent software understanding and specialist training, such as St James Place accreditation, a VA will bring a new dynamic approach to your business’ admin needs.

To find out just how much a virtual assistant could support your business get in touch with New Dawn PA Services.

How a virtual PA can help to improve financial business processes

Improve financial business processes with New Dawn PA

Processes keep a financial business ticking over day to day and ensure that reports are delivered on time and compliance needs met.

Attaining client acquisition goals, meeting deadlines, delivering up to date reports and monitoring product portfolios are often part of an established process.

However, if you are finding your operating systems feel out of date when working remotely, or are struggling to see the light and feeling swamped with paperwork compliance, it might be that you need help in managing or putting in place new financial business processes.

Good working processes apply to all areas of a successful business and making improvements can make operating a company smoother.

Yet, putting in place excellent financial business operations takes time, thought and planning. When multiple processes are required the input can be a considerable drain on your time when you are already busy as a financial or mortgage advisor.

Find support to put in place new financial business processes

A virtual PA with qualifications and experience relating to the financial industry is perfectly placed to help put in place and manage financial business processes.

A virtual PA will be able to draw on a depth of skills and knowledge to improve existing processes or help to implement new ones. If there is something in your business that you think could be improved by implementing a new process find out if a virtual PA can help.

New Dawn PA has extensive experience in working with a wide range of companies, with a specialist focus on the financial industry.

Having worked in a virtual environment for more than a decade, New Dawn PA will be able to offer insights and expertise into the best business processes to use for remote working.

Offering flexibility, New Dawn PA can offer support on a long-term contract basis or for a set duration to put in place a new process.

Improve efficiency with financial business processes

Improved processes could help to support your company in a number of areas including:

  • Product development
  • Marketing
  • Sales
  • Customer relationship management
  • Invoicing
  • Complaint management

Seeking the help of a virtual PA is a great solution to make your business more efficient through improving, managing or introducing financial business processes. 

With the benefit of having worked with numerous processes and understanding what is required a virtual PA can offer expert support.

Talk to a financial PA for support

Whether you are looking to set up a financial business process as a one-off project or need regular process management support, a virtual PA can help.

The use of well thought out financial business processes will support your company as it grows, while reducing errors and improving accountability.

Introduce new and improve financial business processes to support a streamlined and efficient company with the help of an experienced virtual PA – contact New Dawn PA for expert financial admin support today.

Virtual financial administration support in Staffordshire

New Dawn PA Virtual financial administration support in Staffordshire

The smaller details matter in every business but are absolutely vital in a financial advice practice, which is where remote support can help your Staffordshire business.

Making sure that you have the time and resources in place to guarantee that none of these vital details slip through the net is a must – but that can be a hugely time-consuming task for small businesses and sole traders.

Quality, dependable virtual financial administration support in Staffordshire is easier to find than you may think, with flexible as well as long term options available.

For financial advice practices that do not have the resources to take on a full-time member of staff to manage their financial admin a virtual PA is the ideal solution.

Bringing expertise, specialist skills and software knowledge to the organisation, virtual financial administration in Staffordshire will be a breath of fresh air.

If you run a small or large business, or operate as a sole trader, the adaptability of a virtual financial PA could be just what your Staffordshire practice needs.

Financial virtual administration support, Staffordshire

Whether it is issuing reports, data entry, researching products or proofreading documents, virtual financial administration in Staffordshire can be taken care of by a qualified PA. 

This will allow you to focus on specialist tasks that demand your time and concentration. Being pulled between tasks can be a serious distraction so the capacity to compartmentalise them with outsourced admin support should help you to find – and keep – the focus that you need.

All aspects of admin are integral to the running of a business from filing data, raising invoices, chasing debts and recording minutes. Falling short on meeting admin obligations could result in serious issues.

If you are concerned by the demands being placed on your time and worried that vital tasks might slip through the net it is time to seek help. A virtual PA will offer financial administration on whatever basis you need – ad hoc, short term or long term.

As well as flexibility a virtual PA brings a strong set of admin skills and will know what needs to be done to improve the efficiency of your admin systems if needed.

Quality financial admin support in Staffordshire

New Dawn PA offers virtual financial administration support in Staffordshire. With more than a decade’s worth of experience in working remotely, New Dawn PA can help you to put in place support systems if you have recently moved to a homeworking environment.

Having qualified as a St James’s Place Practice Support Specialist, New Dawn PA can offer your financial advice practice the admin support it needs.

Accurate, discreet and offering a wide skill set, New Dawn PA can support your business with numerous admin responsibilities.

Hire virtual support today

If you are unsure of the level of support your financial advice practice needs in the long term, or if you need one-off support to put in place a new system or tackle a back log, ask for help.

New Dawn PA Services is dedicated to offering virtual financial administration support in Staffordshire. For friendly, flexible and reliable support get in touch to find out how New Dawn can help you.

How outsourcing financial admin support could save you money

New Dawn PA How outsourcing financial admin support could save you money

Processes and systems that support the successful running of a finance business take time but are essential – with this in mind have you considered whether outsourcing financial admin support could actually save you money?

From invoicing and credit control to on-boarding new clients and producing reports, admin is the backbone of any business.

Yet the time spent completing these tasks is time that could be spent developing new business contacts and engaging with new clients.

Outsourcing financial admin tasks – or the implementation of new processes and systems – to a virtual PA is an efficient and easy way to claim back time and spend it growing the business instead.

Financial admin support: Help to put in place new processes

With the right processes in place the support system behind a financial business should run like clockwork – and in an industry where accuracy is paramount efficiency cannot be under-rated.

Putting off admin tasks that are essential to the working of your company if you are a wealth management advisor, mortgage advisor or insurance advisor can result in making the task more onerous.

Taking swift, confident action will allow you to move forward onto the next client or task with a clear mind and, more importantly, make sure that compliance regulations are being met.

If you are struggling to put in place effective financial admin processes, are short on time to implement your ideas, or are dealing with an outdated system, expert advice from an experienced virtual PA could help.

One of the many benefits of working with a virtual PA with experience of the financial sector is that they will know what is needed and be able to move quickly to help you put a new process in place. 

As well as establishing new financial admin systems and processes, a virtual PA can take over the running of the associated admin for you if needed.

A safe pair of hands from an experienced financial virtual PA

In addition to understanding the relevant processes, regulation and compliance demands of the finance industry, a virtual PA brings a host of other skills that can assist in the smooth running of your business.

Being organised, accurate, and discreet are natural attributes for an experienced virtual PA, along with a flexible approach to work that enables short-term, long-term or even ad hoc financial admin support to be offered. 

Work that may take longer than anticipated due to interruptions from colleagues, or by answering urgent phone calls or emails, can be completed free from distraction by outsourcing work to an experienced virtual PA, who will prioritise the task rather than attempting to multi-task.

A virtual PA can help with proofreading documents, ensuring invoices are send – and paid – on time, data entry, product research and compiling reports.

Financial admin support you can rely on

New Dawn PA has wide experience of working on different financial systems and offers a professional and discreet service.

As an accredited St James’s Place Practice Support Specialist, Dawn McGovern of New Dawn PA has the skills and background to offer your financial business the help it needs.

With more than a decade of experience in the virtual workplace she has vast experience to draw on for companies or sole traders now adjusting their business to work remotely.

Outsourcing financial admin to a trustworthy virtual PA will free up your valuable time to pursue new business and concentrate on specialist tasks, in full confidence that the support system is in safe hands.

For more information on financial admin support from a virtual PA please contact New Dawn PA.  

From invoicing and credit control to on-boarding new clients and producing reports, admin is the backbone of any business.

Yet the time spent completing these tasks is time that could be spent developing new business contacts and engaging with new clients.

Outsourcing financial admin tasks – or the implementation of new processes and systems – to a virtual PA is an efficient and easy way to claim back time and spend it growing the business instead.

Financial admin support: Help to put in place new processes

With the right processes in place the support system behind a financial business should run like clockwork – and in an industry where accuracy is paramount efficiency cannot be under-rated.

Putting off admin tasks that are essential to the working of your company if you are a wealth management advisor, mortgage advisor or insurance advisor can result in making the task more onerous.

Taking swift, confident action will allow you to move forward onto the next client or task with a clear mind and, more importantly, make sure that compliance regulations are being met.

If you are struggling to put in place effective financial admin processes, are short on time to implement your ideas, or are dealing with an outdated system, expert advice from an experienced virtual PA could help.

One of the many benefits of working with a virtual PA with experience of the financial sector is that they will know what is needed and be able to move quickly to help you put a new process in place. 

As well as establishing new financial admin systems and processes, a virtual PA can take over the running of the associated admin for you if needed.

A safe pair of hands from an experienced financial virtual PA

In addition to understanding the relevant processes, regulation and compliance demands of the finance industry, a virtual PA brings a host of other skills that can assist in the smooth running of your business.

Being organised, accurate, and discreet are natural attributes for an experienced virtual PA, along with a flexible approach to work that enables short-term, long-term or even ad hoc financial admin support to be offered. 

Work that may take longer than anticipated due to interruptions from colleagues, or by answering urgent phone calls or emails, can be completed free from distraction by outsourcing work to an experienced virtual PA, who will prioritise the task rather than attempting to multi-task.

A virtual PA can help with proofreading documents, ensuring invoices are send – and paid – on time, data entry, product research and compiling reports.

Financial admin support you can rely on

New Dawn PA has wide experience of working on different financial systems and offers a professional and discreet service.

As an accredited St James’s Place Practice Support Specialist, Dawn McGovern of New Dawn PA has the skills and background to offer your financial business the help it needs.

With more than a decade of experience in the virtual workplace she has vast experience to draw on for companies or sole traders now adjusting their business to work remotely.

Outsourcing financial admin to a trustworthy virtual PA will free up your valuable time to pursue new business and concentrate on specialist tasks, in full confidence that the support system is in safe hands.

For more information on financial admin support from a virtual PA please contact New Dawn PA.  

How much is your time as a financial advisor worth?

New Dawn PA How much is your time as a financial advisor worth

It can be hard to quantify exactly what our time is worth but putting a value to each of your working hours as a financial advisor will help you to get the most out of your business.

When working for yourself, or heading up a small business, the idea of a 9-5 can rapidly vanish – and with it any notion of an hourly rate.  Add in the hours spent working in the evenings and weekends to catch up on admin tasks and the value of your time can seriously diminish.

Rather than accept this as a necessary evil, recognise the problem then step back and calculate the value of the time you are putting into your business as a financial advisor.

Identifying areas where you are spending a lot of time on tasks that could be outsourced at a lower cost will help you to claw back valuable time that could be spent with your family or on developing your business.

Being able to take a proper break from your work as a financial advisor will allow you to return refreshed and with a clear focus the next day.

Costing out your time as a financial advisor

Working out an accurate value of your time is an efficient means to make the most of your input and see the maximum return for your time. As a financial advisor your time will be put to more valuable use capitalising on your specialist skills than taking care of administrative tasks.

On-boarding new clients and recording their needs, chasing invoices and managing paperwork are a vital part of running a successful business but many admin tasks do not actively bring money into the business.

Consider that the time absorbed by completing these tasks on a regular basis could instead be channelled towards driving up revenues and engaging new clients. Here your time is rewarded for its worth by actively bringing money in.

This is where a virtual PA with a specialist skill set in financial support can help – allowing you to focus on developing the business while reassured your admin is in safe, capable hands.

A PA with industry-specific training, experience and qualifications will know exactly what is demanded of them in a financial environment. Thanks to their experience a virtual PA for the financial industry will be able to hit the ground running as they already have the skills and knowledge needed – and are usually versed in the appropriate software. 

How can a virtual PA help?

A virtual PA can assist financial advisors with a wide range of administrative tasks including:

  • On-boarding clients
  • Database management
  • Producing reports
  • Research
  • Data entry
  • Customer relationship management
  • Proofreading
  • Invoice and credit control
  • Diary management

Meeting compliance demands as a financial advisor as well as customer expectations is essential and excellent administrative will ensure this is the case.

Reliable, organised administration is the backbone of a successful business, which makes it vital – but that doesn’t mean it cannot be outsourced.

Outsource admin for financial advisors

If the administration of your financial planning practice is caused you to feel burned out through a lack of downtime – or seeing you miss out on new opportunities a virtual PA will be able to help.  

Outsourcing admin work to a virtual PA at a lower rate than you would pay yourself could help to push up revenue in the long term. Offloading time-heavy tasks can enable you to dedicate your valuable time to the work that is the heart of your practice.

Calculate just what your time is worth to understand if outsourcing work to a virtual PA makes financial sense.

New Dawn PA has experience of working in the financial sector and is an accredited St James’s Place Practice Support Specialist – contact us to find out more.

Do you need extra support to meet financial compliance standards?

New Dawn PA support to meet financial compliance standards

In an industry where meeting standards is essential, having accurate and consistent documentation is vital.

In the finance industry, support that you can count on allows you to have faith in your documentation and data processes when you need it most.

When a report needs to be submitted, having swift access to compliance documents gives you – and others – confidence in the thoroughness of your approach.

Compliance reviews are a necessary part of maintaining standards in accountancy and the finance industry. The only way to complete these is by having the necessary paperwork and evidence in place.

How a virtual PA could help you meet compliance requirements

To allow compliance standards to be met, having a complete and easy to access audit trail is a vital part of the process.

A PA that is experienced at working in the finance industry will understand how important it is to create and securely file documents that could form part of a compliance review.

As well as understanding the importance of full and accurate data, a PA with a strong background working in the financial sector will be able to identify what data is important from a compliance point of view.

This could even extend to checking that all the documents that you may need for an audit trail are being securely stored in an easily searchable manner.

Financial advisors in a small business, or operating as a sole trader, may not have employees to manage documentation needed for compliance reviews. Dealing with the day-to-day running of a business can create a constant demand on your time, with admin and document management adding an additional workload.

Where the need or resources are not there for a full-time member of staff, a virtual PA with relevant experience can provide the support that is needed when completing compliance reviews – or managing documentation.

Flexible admin support for financial advisors

With the training, qualifications and equipment in place, a virtual PA, such as New Dawn PA can offer help where and when it is needed.

New Dawn PA has worked extensively with financial advisors and is fully aware of the standards required for industry compliance.

New Dawn PA can manage documentation for audit trails or even help to put in place more effective systems.

With a commitment to accuracy, organisation, effectiveness and discretion, financial advisors can be confident that all admin needed for compliance reviews will be filed in a safe and timely manner – and that all relevant paperwork is completed.

Gain support to meet financial compliance standards

If you needed additional support that you can rely on as a financial advisor – or help in completing compliance reviews – New Dawn PA can help.

Support from New Dawn PA is available on a short-term, long-term or ad hoc basis so please get in touch to find out how we can support your financial business.

New Dawn PA secures accreditation as a St James’s Place Practice Support Specialist

Finance VA New Dawn PA Gold Certificate Support Specialist

Having strong experience of working in the financial sector, Dawn McGovern is delighted to announce that she is now an accredited St James’s Place Practice Support Specialist.

The accreditation is a sign of Dawn’s commitment to, and enthusiasm for, working in the financial industry. 

Achieving the gold standard as a Practice Support Specialist, Dawn has now completed the St James’s Place Support staff administrator accreditation programme to add to her skillset in financial administration support.

Through New Dawn PA, Dawn offers support to financial advisors and wealth management companies, including those operating in partnership with St James’s Place Wealth Management.

As an accredited member of St James Place partnership support staff Dawn has reinforced her commitment to the standards required within the financial industry.

Accredited financial support

New Dawn PA has offered high-level administration support to companies on a flexible or long-term basis for more than a decade.

Working remotely from her own office, or in-house, New Dawn PA is committed to proving dependable admin support on a flexible basis.

New Dawn PA has extensive experience of working within the financial industry, acquiring specialist software knowledge and developing the skillset need for all-encompassing financial support.

With a commitment to accuracy, discretion and to maintaining standards, New Dawn PA enjoys offering trustworthy support to financial advisors.

This includes:

  • Ensuring documents are completed within compliance guidelines
  • Adapting to, and helping to implement, efficient, secure working procedures
  • Excellent software skills
  • CRM management

Flexible financial administration support specialist

If you are looking for additional support in wealth management on a long-term, short-term or ad hoc basis New Dawn PA offers proven expertise in the financial industry on a flexible basis.

For financial support that you can trust, choose New Dawn PA. Get in touch today to find out how Dawn can help your business.

Get in the right (ergonomic) zone while working from home

New Dawn PA the right ergonomic zone

Office ergonomics – a chair that supports your back and a mouse that fits to your hand generally covers it for most people, but there is a lot more that can be easily incorporated into your workspace without having to study the science behind it.

As well as the basic support functions for ensuring the body remains comfortable in a seated, desk-based position, ergonomics focuses on the wider environment – in particular how far you have to reach while working.

Ergonomic zones help people to visualise and control how easy it is to access the objects they might need to use throughout the working day.

The focus remains on protecting the body and minimising the chance of suffering aches, strains and pains from assuming an uncomfortable position, repeat movements or over-stretching.

What is the right ergonomic zone/s?

Ergonomic zones are used to split the desk (or wider working area) into primary, secondary and non-working zones. The idea is that these should be used as guidelines to lay out an effective workspace that reduces strain on the body. The zones are defined by how far they are from your body and the frequency of use of the items within them.

Primary Zone

This is the area closest to the body that can be reached without needing to move your arms away from the side of your body. Essentially it is the part of the desk directly in front of you if you fan your arms across the desk without reaching out – around where the keyboard should ideally rest. Within the primary ergonomic zone you should have all the items that are essential to you getting your job done – keyboard, mouse, pen, paper.

Also known as the neutral zone, this area incorporates the area just above or below the primary zone – such as desk draw immediately under the keyboard.

In a well set up desk space there should be little reason to reach outside the primary area throughout the day.

Secondary zone  

The secondary zone is defined as the area of your workspace that you can still reach easily but with your arms stretched out. This is the area to store reference books, the phone (if only used occasionally), specialist tools, drinks etc.

Tertiary zone

To reach this area you will be required to bend forwards or even stand. To minimise strain on the musculoskeletal system the tertiary zone should be used for items that are not generally used in the course of the day, such as stored documents and less frequently used reference books. It is also a good place to add personal effects, such as plants and photographs.

Any parts of the office beyond this area should be used as storage or decoration as accessing them will require repeat movements or extra effort.

Taking care to make sure your body is protected and you are comfortable when working will help to ensure you are efficient and productive at work – and remain free from strains and pains.

How does your home office measure up? Maybe its time to have a rethink to make life a little easier for yourself and to protect your body by reorganising your desk into zones.

Virtual admin support

New Dawn PA has more than 10 years of experience offering administrative support in a virtual working environment.

If you need extra support for a wide range of admin tasks – or need help setting up more effective systems, New Dawn can help.

For support on either a long-term, short-term or ad hoc basis New Dawn can help – please get in touch to find out how we can support your business and make sure you work in the right ergonomic zone 🙂

How to create an ergonomic home office: Protect your body

New Dawn PA How to create an ergonomic home office

Many current home offices will, in reality, be hastily cleared tables and chairs following the sudden switch to home working – but getting the ergonomics right will help you to avoid problems such as a bad back.

Sitting in a poor position occasionally should not generally lead to a problem but sitting day after day in that same position, if it puts strain on your body, can soon become an issue.

One of the biggest problems caused by failing to consider the ergonomics of the home office is suffering from a bad back.

All too often these problems creep up on us un-noticed then suddenly you are hit with pain or discomfort that says with you for weeks or even months.

As always, prevention is better than the cure so take the time to set up an ergonomic home office and make sure you have access to any equipment that you need to make sure you can work comfortably. 

How to create an ergonomic home office

Space can be at a premium for lots of people who are now finding themselves working from home, but where you can try to accommodate the following:

Comfortable seating position

This is not lounging on the sofa, unfortunately, in fact doing that every day while working probably would be pretty bad. The optimal position to sit in when working is to face your desk with your feet being able to rest flat on the floor while your lower back is supported by the chair. In effect this position sees you leaning back slightly to work, with your back supported, rather than sitting bolt upright.

While there are numerous ergonomic chairs available to buy, your budget may not stretch to that or you may not have the space. In this case fashion a lumber support by rolling up a towel and putting it behind your lower back or finding a cushion that works.

Keep your arms relaxed

Repetitive strain injury can be a significant problem for people who spend long hours working at a computer and using a mouse. Making sure you are in the best position for typing and that you take regular breaks can help to avoid this.

Ideally your hand, wrist and elbow will be in a neutral position following a flat line – or with the wrist and hand slightly below the elbow. This will  minimise strain on the wrists when typing or controlling the cursor. Avoid having your wrists flick up at all costs.

This is where table and chair height may become an issue if you are too low or too high, so use whatever means you have at hand to put your arms in the correct position, whether that is raising your chair, adding cushioning or even putting something solid, like books, underneath your desk to raise that.

Monitor

Craning up – or down – to look at your work all day long could well lead to neck or back strain so make sure that your monitor is either at eye level or slightly below to put it in the best ergonomic position. You may need to be creative with books or buy a laptop riser to accommodate this.

Make sure you help to avoid eye strain by keeping glare off the screen – and ensuring the room is well lit with natural light being the best option.

With the key ergonomic issues of the home office taken care of it is then worth making sure that everything you have is in easy reach and that you have the room you need to consult books and write notes if needed.

Taking a little time to make sure your body is supported in an ergonomic home office could help to keep you safe from stresses and strains – being comfy is also excellent for productivity.

Need help to understand how to create an ergonomic home office?

If you have moved your business to be home-based and need support putting in place effective working systems or managing your admin load, New Dawn PA can help.

Having worked virtually for more than 10 years New Dawn PA can offer expert advice and has wide experience of working in construction and finance industries.

To find out how New Dawn PA can help you improve your efficiency when working from home and to talk about tips to help you get to grips with how to create an ergonomic home office please get in touch.

Create a home workspace that supports productivity and positivity

New Dawn PA-home workspace that supports productivity

Remaining happy and productive while working from home is a key part of getting the job done and feeling fulfilled. If you can create a home workspace that supports productivity you will feel more in control and energised whilst working in your home environment.

While lifestyle choices will impact the way that you feel mentally and physically, when working from home the environment that you choose to work in will also impact the way that you feel.

Mental Health Week in May (18 to 23) had a theme of kindness and perhaps now more than ever people need to remember to be kind to themselves.

By making sure that you have the right environment to work in you are doing yourself a much-needed kindness.

Sitting slumped on the sofa or squeezing in at the end of the kitchen worktop will very possibly lead to constant interruptions and a bad back!

Instead make sure you have a space to work where you can shut out the background noise and constant lure of household tasks to allow you to concentrate and cut stress.

It might not be easy depending on the space you have, but try wherever possible to carve a little piece of the home out for you to work at in an environment that will make you feel good about getting down to work.

Creating your ideal home office

Focusing on a few key factors will help you to create a home workspace that sets you up mentally for the task ahead. These include:

Light

One of the essential elements to creating a positive working environment is maximising natural light. Sunlight is a natural mood booster that can improve wellbeing and focus. Exposure to natural light will help to keep your body in check by encouraging you to get a good night’s sleep through helping to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm.

When setting up your home working space make the most of any natural light and try to face the window to make the most of the daylight – and give yourself a nice view to rest your eyes when taking a screen break.

Beyond the benefits of natural light though make sure the artificial lighting suits your needs. Harsh electric light could give you a headache, while working in shadow may strain your eyes. Invest in a good lamp for task lighting and upgrade your lighting to better illuminate the room or invest in a couple of lamps.

Fresh air and temperature

Make sure to open the window as often as possible to let air flow through the room and keep stuffiness at bay. This will help to blow the cobwebs away and let you feel good about getting stuck into the working day.

It is also important to regulate temperature as being too hot or too cold can make it difficult to work. If you are freezing cold it can be impossible to concentrate, and if the room is too hot you may become sleepy and unable to concentrate. Turn the heating on if needed and put on some layers if it is cold indoors – or open the window and invest in a fan if heat is a problem. No-one performs at their best when they feel uncomfortable.

Bring nature indoors with office plants

It’s not just the great outdoors that can benefit our mental wellbeing, plants have been shown to improve air quality and mood. Add a few strategic plants to your working space to make it look fantastic and promote an atmosphere of calm.

Good choices of office plants cover a range of low maintenance wonders that can survive with little light or water, such as spider plants, Jade (or money) plants, cactus, aloe vera and peace lilies.

Aesthetics

An office that looks and feels the part will make you feel better and want to get to work – rather than avoid sitting down to work. There are basic design principles that you can embrace to make the most of your home office, such as feng shui.

Following the rules of feng shui is purported to help bring you luck, good fortune, success and happiness among other benefits. Golden rules for the office include not facing a wall (if you cannot avoid this use artwork to soften the appearance), adding plants, facing the door and having a good source of light.

An emphasis on keeping the room – and desk – clear of clutter to avoid negative energy definitely makes sense to help keep a clear mind. While making sure you have a clear divide between work and home life by closing the door and locating your office as far away from the bedroom as possible is vital to your wellbeing – and your family’s – by allowing you to properly disconnect. 

Taking the time to create a calm, clear area that allows you to focus can go a long way to supporting your mental wellbeing while working from home, so take time to create a home office that makes you feel good.

Develop a home workspace that supports productivity

For support in running a business from home, New Dawn PA has more than 10 years’ experience in working virtually and can help to put new systems in place as well as manage admin tasks.

To find out how New Dawn PA can help you to create a home workspace that supports productivity, please get in touch.