One of the good things that came from the coronavirus pandemic was that many people were able to transition to working at home for their employers. They met together via conference calls, then completed their work in their personal space.
Whether you are working for a company or you are building your own home business, it can be difficult to maintain a high level of productivity when you transition to working at home.
This post will give you several tips that you can use to ensure that you get your to-do list done by the end of each day. Incorporate the ones that allow you to keep a productive home office.
20 Tips for Staying Productive When Working at Home
Working from home can be tricky if you haven’t done it before. Not only does your personal space seem invaded by your workspace, but it can be difficult to properly clock in or clock out for the day. Distractions seem to surround you and you may struggle to keep on task.
Everyone will have their own unique challenges when it comes to working from home, but fortunately, there are many different tips and strategies you can use to make staying productive a little easier. These tips include the following:
1. Set up Your Office Space Properly
Find a place in your home that you can set up as your workplace. Whether you have a spare room or you use a corner in your kitchen with a desk, designating a place for your work is the first thing you should do. Clear the space from as many personal distractions as you can. Set up your tools in the same way you would at an office. Avoid placing personal items (such as your mail or items relating to hobbies) in your work area.
2. Create A Schedule For The Day
It’s important to create a schedule of what tasks need to get accomplished during each hour of the day. This helps ensure that you don’t spend too much time doing one particular activity over another. You might also want to consider scheduling breaks throughout the day where you take some time away from your computer screen. Try taking a walk around the block or going outside for fresh air. Even just getting off your feet every once in a while can help clear your mind, making it easier to refocus when you get back to your computer.
3. Keep Track Of Time With An App Or Clock
Keeping track of time while working remotely can be challenging because you won’t always know exactly how long things took. Apps like Google Calendar allow you to easily add events to your calendar which makes keeping track of time easy. Another option is using a productivity app such as Forrest App that will help you keep on task and keep track of how long you spent on a particular project.
4. Clean Your Workspace at the End of Your Day
Being able to clean your workspace regularly is essential to maintaining productivity. Without having a spotless environment, it becomes harder to focus on your job. If you take a few minutes to clear your area at the end of the day, you will be able to go to work the next day and immediately start tackling your task list.
5. Be Prepared For Emergencies
One of the biggest reasons why remote workers fail to complete assignments successfully is due to lack of preparation. Before starting any project, plan out everything you need to accomplish. Think through what steps you need to follow and write them down. Then, review them frequently to avoid forgetting anything along the way.
6. Don’t Forget About Exercise
Staying active is key to improving your quality of life. Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean heading into the gym. Instead, try doing some light stretching exercises throughout the day. This will keep your muscles limber and ready to work.
Being physically fit makes you happier and healthier. Try taking breaks every hour to stretch and walk around. Even better, consider getting a standing desk instead of using a traditional chair all day. The best part about having your own office setup is that you can choose the furniture that works best for you. If you do choose to sit while you work, make sure that you use an ergonomic chair to keep your posture in check.
7. Get a Good Night Sleep Every Day
Getting adequate sleep helps boost creativity and concentration levels. Plus, sleeping well also improves overall health and wellbeing. Aim for 7-8 hours per night, then get up and work through your morning routine.
8. Stay Away From Your Office During Evenings and on Weekends
Everyone needs downtime to enjoy their personal lives. Whether it means spending quality time with family or friends, relaxing by yourself, or simply enjoying nature, take advantage of whatever opportunities come your way. Make sure you stay away from your work area out of office hours to keep that work/life balance separate.
9. Avoid Distractions Like TV Shows and Movies
Watching television shows or movies while working can cause distractions and decrease productivity. Make sure to keep that sort of entertainment separate from your personal time.
10. Schedule Regular Meals and Breaks
Eating meals and snacks regularly keeps blood sugar steady and prevents hunger pangs. Not only does eating often prevent overeating later on, but it also boosts brainpower. Taking regular breaks to grab a cup of coffee throughout the day will allow you to keep a productive mindset when you are back at your desk.
11. Make Sure that You Have Enough Light Exposure
Too little sunlight can lead to depression and fatigue. Therefore, ensure that you are exposed to natural daylight as much as possible. If you have a window near your workplace, place a couple of houseplants in it to freshen up the space.
12. Drink Plenty of water
Dehydration causes headaches and other symptoms associated with poor mental performance. So drink plenty of water throughout the day.
13. Eat Healthy Foods
Consuming nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and dairy products can increase your energy level and enhance memory retention.
14. Practice Mindfulness Techniques
Meditation techniques allow you to clear your mind and relax. This will improve focus and reduce stress. Try yoga or meditation exercises to help calm down and relieve tension. Even refocusing a couple of times a day can make a huge difference in sticking to your daily schedule.
15. Listen To Music While Working
Listening to music has been proven to stimulate creativity and sharpen attention. Plus, listening to relaxing tunes during study sessions improves productivity by reducing anxiety. Avoid listening to music with lyrics if you need to stay focused.
16. Get Some Fresh Air
Spending some time outdoors allows you to breathe fresh air which reduces stress and increases alertness. Go outside whenever you feel like getting some sunshine!
17. Set Goals and Priorities
Setting goals and priorities before starting any project will give you something concrete to aim towards. When you know what you want to achieve, it becomes easier to stick to those plans.
18. Work on One Project at Once
Trying to do multiple tasks simultaneously may seem efficient, but this approach actually leads to less effective results. Focus on one task for an hour then switch gears to another. Over time, these short bursts of concentration add up and become more effective than trying to complete several projects at once all day long.
19. Keep a Work Journal
Keeping a journal is useful because it helps you track your progress over time so you’ll be able to see where you stand compared to others who work remotely. It could even motivate you to try harder if you compare yourself against someone else who has accomplished similar feats.
20. Have a Transition Ritual
Whether you take a walk to the local coffee shop, listen to a specific song, turn off your cell phone, or turn on the lamp on your desk, you should have a specific ritual that will help you move from personal time to working regular hours.
How to Transition to Working at Home for Your Boss
Many employers have realized that some of their most productive workers do better when working from home. Not only do they keep their productivity levels up from not being continually interrupted by other office workers, but they can decrease some of the overhead costs of running an office. For these reasons, many bosses are more willing to allow you to telecommute as long as you complete your personal tasks each day on time.
That being said, there are a few things you should do when working from home for your employer to keep yourself organized and on track. These will include the following:
1. Keep Up to Date with the List of Projects
Make sure that you and your employer are very clear about the projects that you need to do as part of your regular schedule. You should also have some understanding of other projects in your organization and what deadlines you need to meet so that others aren’t blocked on their own projects. Try to keep these notes organized and not written on a random piece of paper.
2. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions When Needed
If you’re struggling to complete assignments, don’t hesitate to ask questions about them. Your teacher might not know everything there is to know about the subject matter, so asking him/her for clarification could save you some trouble.
3. Keep Yourself Organized With An Appointment Booking System
Having a system where you book appointments ahead of time makes things easier because you won’t be scrambling to find someone’s number all the time. Use Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook to set reminders about upcoming meetings.
4. Dress Up for Meetings
While you may be able to sit at your dining table in a comfortable chair, it is still important that you look professional at each meeting. Taking the extra step to ensure you look good will also get you in the mindset that you are at work and not just having social time.
5. Learn Remote Work Tools
It is likely that your corporation has remote work tools to help you reach peak productivity while you are on the clock. Take some time to learn how to use these project management tools efficiently to create extra time throughout the day to get ahead. If your boss can see that you are more productive at home than you are in the office, they are likely to give you a little more leeway in how you to chose to work in the future.
How to Transition to Working at Home for Yourself
Even after you have learned to keep your home office clean, created a morning ritual that will get you in a work mindset, and have found the perfect background noise to keep you focused, you may still struggle a bit to stay on task.
Working for yourself can be very rewarding, but it can also be very difficult to stay motivated. Here are a few things you can do to keep yourself engaged in building the work-life you want:
1. Set Goals For Yourself Each Month
Setting goals gives you something to work towards and motivates you to achieve success. Write down what you want to accomplish over the next month and then set small milestones along the way.
2. Learn How to Say No
Saying no doesn’t mean being rude; saying yes too many times may leave you feeling exhausted and drained. Learning how to say no to some jobs will give you more time to finish other projects that will generate less stress.
3. Do Something Creative at Least Once Per Week
Creativity is one of the most powerful tools we possess. By doing creative activities once per week, you’ll develop new skills and learn valuable lessons.
4. Read Books about Different Topics in Life
Reading different types of books provides inspiration and motivation. Choose topics that interest you or ones that challenge you intellectually.
5. Consider Getting a Separate Phone
If you find yourself getting distracted with personal things when using your cell phone, you may decide that you need a separate phone for your business. That way, you can focus on making your calls or communicating with clients without finding yourself on social media feeds a couple of times per day.
6. Find an Accountability Partner
If you are the sole owner of your business, it may be hard to keep yourself accountable for getting your work done. Either look for a partner who is the perfect fit to work alongside you or find an accountability partner who will be tough on you if you don’t meet your weekly goals.
