7 Tips to Stay Productive When Working From Home

Working from home definitely has its perks. You can make your own schedule, nobody is constantly looking over your shoulder, and you are basically your own boss.

These are great things but let’s face it, staying productive while working from home can be a challenge sometimes.

If you are facing such struggles now or if you just want to be even more productive than you already are, these tips might be exactly what you need to get to where you want to be in terms of your productivity at home.

 

 

  • Prepare for the Day Right

 

You take the time to prepare before going to the office every day. You get dressed according to the standards of your office and you mentally prepare for the day ahead.

You should approach working at home the same way. 

You don’t need a suit and a tie, but putting on what you designate as work clothes for your home setting can make a huge difference in terms of mindset and productivity.

 

 

  • Create a Suitable Work Area

 

A home setting allows you to work entirely on your own terms. You might jump at the opportunity to work lying down in your bed and it will probably feel great, but it could kill your productivity.

Designating a purely working area in your home will help you shift into the right mindset for productivity.

For best results, make sure that you are comfortable working in your chosen spot and that the said spot has all the things you need for doing your job, plus other needs, like snacks or water.

You should also pay attention to safety, such as carrying a lone worker alarm. These can help you stay safe in the case of an emergency.

 

 

  • Separate your Working Time

 

Your home is full of distractions and there might be a lot of little things you need to do around the house other than doing your job.

A lot of small distractions combine for a major loss of productivity.

A great way to avoid these small distractions is to set working hours for yourself and commit to nothing other than work during this time.

 

 

  • Take Regular Breaks

 

Even if you set your working hours, your brain can only remain sufficiently concentrated on the task at hand for a limited amount of time.

Even when you’re at the office, you can’t remain concentrated for 8 hours straight. Taking regular breaks is not only suggested, but it is encouraged.

In order to maintain the highest level of productivity, you should take a 15-20-minute break for every hour of work. It might seem like a lot of downtime but the jump in productivity will more than make up for it. 

 

 

  • Set a Schedule

 

There will be things you must tend to besides work in your home.

If you want to prevent these things from interfering with your work, it is a good idea to set a schedule for yourself clearly detailing the times for work and the times for other tasks.

Don’t let the two mix, your work breaks are meant for you to relax and get your mind back in the game, not tend to the dishes or some other house task.

 

 

  • Manage Relations with your Family & Roommates

 

If you share your home with family or roommates, they might not understand your need to concentrate on your work and they might often interrupt you for relatively unimportant reasons.

Politely asking them to give you your space while you work could go a long way toward helping you stay as productive as possible.

 

 

  • Maintain your Work-Life Balance

 

You need to maintain your work-life balance even when you work from home.

If you don’t do this, you run the risk of torpedoing your productivity at home because you start seeing it like an office you are at 24/7.

Make sure that you spend quality time with your family/roommates and make sure that you get out of the house regularly. 

 

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