Home, Sweet Office: 5 Tips for Working from Your Apartment

This article originally appeared on the Springs "You're Home Blog."

Technology is changing the traditional office workday model. According to renowned research and consulting company Gallup, more than one-third of you who are reading this have been a telecommuter at one time or another.

Does your Springs luxury apartment home do double-duty as your workplace? Here are the best tips we've found for creating a home and an office that work (and play) well together.

One of the reasons companies have established business hours is that they provide a clear division of time. You don't have to work the standard 9-to-5, but you should create a regular schedule to stay motivated while keeping your work and personal lives separate.

If you work in whatever spot you happen to drop in that day, it's another surefire way to blur the lines between office and home. Establish a specific work area, whether it's a spare bedroom, desk or corner table. Room dividers are a great way to create office space while adding a decorative accent to your home.

Some people enjoy the solitude of a home office, but if you're not one of them, you can talk to your pet for only so long. Make a point to get out for lunch or just a coffee break, with or without friends. It doesn't have to be every day, but it's a good outlet to keep from going stir-crazy.

PJs or everyday clothes? Opinion is split on this one. Some people stay productive in sleep wear or sweats, but many others use the ritual of dressing as another delineation between work and personal time. Even if you find you need to wear street clothes to get in the game, you have the advantage of dressing less formally than you would in an office.

When you're working in a self-contained area, you can end up even more desk-bound than you are in a traditional office. Keep your mind sharp and avoid muscle tension with periodic breaks to move around. Do some stretching, jog in place or take a walk around the block.

Our Springs communities have clubhouses with free Wi-Fi and coffee bars, so when you need a change of scenery, it's only a few steps away.

Are you a veteran telecommuter? Share your favorite work-at-home tips in the comments!