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It can be difficult to stay productive when working from home. You have to juggle your daily tasks along with home and family concerns and maintain your sanity. I have worked from home for over ten years, so I know how hard it is to maintain productivity and how easy it is to form lousy work habits.
I had to figure out how to manage my time to stay productive. Avoiding distractions is one of the hardest things to master. After all, something always needs to be done around the house.
With that in mind, here are 15 tips that have helped me maintain my productivity when working from home.
Create Your Space
You’ll be much more productive if you have a separate workspace in your home. This is especially important if you live with other adults or have kids. If you don’t have an office space, use a spare bedroom, the basement, or other less frequently used space.
Organize Your Space
Choose a desk big enough for everything you need and a comfortable, ergonomic office chair. Then, create separate spaces for supplies, reference materials, and long-term projects. Assign filing or discard dates for any paperwork to keep your space as clutter-free as possible. Add a few pops of color with photos or pictures on the wall, and you’re ready to go.
Get the Equipment You Need
Make sure you have all the equipment you need. Some people may be fine working on a laptop, while others, like me, prefer a desktop. You may need a scanner or printer if you deal with a lot of physical paper. Also, make sure your internet is fast and reliable enough to complete your tasks.
Work Out a Schedule With Your Family
Creating a schedule for the whole family is important if you don’t live alone. Make sure everyone knows your work hours so they know to keep distractions to a minimum. Also, work out a way for your family to know when you are in meetings and can’t be disturbed. A sign on your office door is a good option.
Maintain a Morning Routine
Try to keep your morning routine similar to what you’d have if you were going to the office. Set your alarm, get up, and get ready for the day. This helps to signal your brain that you’re transitioning from your home environment to your workspace.
Dress for Success
We’ve all seen the images of people happily working from their couch in their PJs. But that’s not really the best thing to do. Even though you work from home, you should still dress like you’re going to the office. This will send a message to your brain that it’s time to work, which will help increase mental energy and focus. Plus, you’ll be well prepared for any impromptu video meetings that may pop up.
Make a Cup of Coffee or Tea Before Starting Work
If you like to drink coffee or tea, make your first cup before you sit down to work. If you work first, you’ll have to get up to make your first cup, and you could lose your train of thought. So, grab that first cup, then sit down and start your day. My day always starts with checking emails, so I enjoy my coffee while doing that.
Listen to a Podcast, Music, or White Noise
This tip isn’t for everyone. Some people enjoy complete silence. But if you’re like me, you prefer some sort of background noise, and there are plenty of options. Podcasts, audiobooks, music, or white noise are great choices. Experiment with a few and find what works for you.
Take Breaks Outside
Fresh air and sun are great for your physical and mental health. So be sure to take regular breaks outside. Exercise is also great for your health. Walk the dog or spend a few minutes enjoying the fresh air. Even short breaks every couple of hours can help improve mental clarity and productivity.
Mono-Task
I know everyone is all about multitasking these days, but most of us can’t do it well. Professor David Strayer, an expert in cognitive distraction from the University of Utah, says it’s only about 2% of the population. When you multitask, your brains have to constantly switch focus as you move from one task to the next. It might take a bit of getting used to, but you’ll find you’re more productive if you do one thing at a time.
Set Daily, Weekly, Monthly Goals
Take a few minutes every day to plan out the goals you want to accomplish. I always plan my day the night before, but you can also do it when you first work in the morning. Use these daily goals to prepare a larger weekly goal; you can even set monthly goals for larger, long-term projects.
Set Times for Emails
Email can take up much of your day if you let it. So, unless your work requires you to have email on all the time, designate two or three times during the day to check it. If your email is constantly in view, you’ll be distracted by every new message that comes in, and that can disrupt your focus.
Minimize Digital Distractions
You probably wouldn’t check your social media much if you were in the office. When working from home, taking a quick peek at your feeds is a little easier. But be careful not to check your socials too often, or you might lose an hour or more a day reading comments and checking posts.
Remember to Socialize
Working from home doesn’t mean you have to be isolated and disconnected from your coworkers or coworkers. Using a video program like Microsoft Teams or Zoom and having regular video calls with coworkers and coworkers will help you stay connected and minimize the feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Develop an End of Day Routine
Switching off at the end of the workday is harder when you work from home. But you need time to rest and recharge and time for yourself and your family. Towards the end of your workday, review and update your to-do list and check your schedule for the next day. Then, tidy your workspace, say goodbye to your coworkers, and leave your office for the day.
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