8 Tips for Working Productively at Home
Photo by Lauren Mancke on Unsplash
While working from home offers many comforts, it also runs the risk of being rather unproductive. This is especially true for folks accustomed to working in offices and public spaces. As with any transition to a new environment, working from home can take some getting used to. While remote work will never look quite the same as working in your office office, it doesn’t mean it can’t be equally, if not more, productive. Here are a few tips for working productively from home based on years of experimentation.
Design your workspace.
As you settle into your office or workplace, you settle into a visual reminder that it is time to get to work. Recreating similar surroundings at home can help you get in the zone. While having a home office offers a separate quiet space to focus on work, many of us can’t afford this luxury. Wherever you designate your workplace to be, set yourself up for a productive workday.
Gather all of the necessary supplies, whether pens or snacks like biscuits and coffee.
Tidy up the clutter in your range of view so you can focus on work instead of glancing over at the pile of dishes that await you.
Choose a firm and upright seat that creates a healthy posture and minimize working from your bed our couch.
Set your laptop closer to eye level to prevent any neck strain.
While you’re at it, create some ambiance. A comfortable place to work can boost productivity. Light a candle, spark some incense or switch on your diffuser. If that’s not your thing, try working to playlists that are conducive to staying focused. You’ll be less inclined to get up or react to distractions if you’re relaxed and enjoying your surroundings.
Set healthy limits.
Be realistic as you set a schedule and boundaries for yourself. In this age of distractions, it’s rare to go a full day without checking your phone or other communications tools. If staying connected is important, set clear limits for yourself. Cut yourself some slack and check on personal things but control this to achieve higher levels of productivity. This could mean giving yourself a short break from work every hour, or working intensely for a few hours and taking a longer break. Different methods work for different people; what’s important is setting realistic limits and sticking to them.
Minimize distractions.
Silence your phone, switch off your TV, and hide the remotes if it makes you feel better. If dead silence is distracting to you, play some white noise, soft music, or a TV channel you’re not that interested in. Close all tabs unrelated to work (Facebook, Reddit, news) or at least minimize them until your next break.
Start early.
Working from home ultimately nixes your morning commute. While it’s tempting to snag those extra minutes of sleep, a slow and sluggish morning is likely to translate to a slow and sluggish day. Rather than turning up to “the office” at your regular time, get out of bed when you normally would and get a head start on the day. This could mean getting to your inbox earlier or squeezing in a quick workout. Take the opportunity to get the ball rolling early and reap rewards like taking longer breaks or clocking out sooner.
At the end of the day, how productive you can be while working from home is up to you, and only you. Try new strategies, track your progress, be accountable—and find new ways to make it fun!