Bryce Hansen Team Blog

One of the things we love most about living in the Comox Valley is the community mindset and support-local attitude of the amazing people that live here. Like the majority of British Columbia, small business entrepreneurship has been on the rise in the Comox Valley over the last several years. The 2019 Government of BC Small Business Profile showcased that a staggering 61% of the province’s small businesses were operated by self-employed persons with no paid employees. The success of a small businesses weighs on many important factors, most importantly a strong office set-up that promotes productivity and positivity. Many entrepreneurs work solely from home or rely on a streamlined home office to ensure they’re maximizing their work-from-home time. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to revamp your existing home office or a new business starting out, here are our key tips to ensure you’re setting yourself up for victory. 

Designate a Space
This may sound really easy, but many entrepreneurs are guilty of working from a kitchen table, couch or comfortable space in their home. Not only does working from the dining room table pose the issue of having important paperwork scattered about, it also runs the risk of causing unnecessary distractions. Create a designated office with the space you have such as a spare room, window nook or a sectioned off area in your home. When it’s time to work, step away from the household chores and Netflix time and commit to staying in your workspace, focused on ticking items off your important to do list.

Switch Up the Décor
It’s been said that a change of scenery promotes creativity and productivity, so why not treat your office to a new painting, live plant or accent wall paint colour? Upgrading your workplace doesn’t have to be expensive, you can find some exciting pieces for your office real estate at your local thrift shop, market or artisan store. Popular 2020 office décor trends include using vintage furniture in lieu of a traditional desk, installing a fun wallpaper print as an accent wall or incorporating live edge wood shelves to spruce a space up. 

Invest in Organization
There is nothing more discouraging than a messy office that leaves you saying “where do I even start?” By investing in a few key organization elements such as paperwork inboxes, a small filing cabinet or command centre for loose office supplies you’ll clear the way for completion of the important stuff. We recommend taking 5 minutes at the end of your day to file away completed paperwork, tuck away roaming paperclips and clear your desk of the day’s notes. 

Opt for Digital Efficiencies
With the ever-changing world of technology comes a wealth of online platforms and apps that help to streamline your systems and reduce the paper clutter in your office. Apps like Asana, Evernote and Todoist make collaborative task management a dream, reducing the need for traditional paper notes. You can also take your digital filing procedures to new heights with Drobox, Google Drive and iCloud services.

We love having the opportunity to work with so many amazing Courtenay and surrounding area entrepreneurs. If you're looking for a home with room for an office, give your favourite Real Estate Team a call.