For millions of people, working from home is their new reality these days. If you’re not used to this lifestyle, you might find it challenging to get everything done.
But don’t fret. Here are 12 tips to help you stay productive when working from home.
1. Set up your day for success
If you want to be productive at home, you should establish the same tone at the beginning of the day that you would before heading off to your usual place of work. Don’t just slide out of bed wearing your pajamas and start watching TV. Brew some coffee, do your morning routine, and create your daily to-do list.
2. Clean and organize
It’s not conducive to a work environment when your space is in chaos and cluttered. Being in an organized and tidy environment will allow you to focus on your work. It could also help limit the chances of being distracted by random things lying around your workspace.
3. Use good lighting
Source: ShutterstockA well-lit environment helps your mind and body stay energized throughout the day. Turn on the lights in your home workspace, and take advantage of natural sunlight when possible. Don’t get carried away, however. A light source that is too bright could cause glare and quickly tire your eyes.
4. Set up a home office
Ideally, your workspace at home should match what you’re used to at the office. If you have a desk and a computer monitor, set it up as if you were in the office. At home, you can personalize your space more to your tastes than you might be able to at the office, so this could provide some inspiration.
5. Good body positioning
The way you sit while you work will have an impact on how well you perform and how productive you would be. If you don’t have a proper workspace, try to set one up one with a small table and a comfortable chair that allows you to sit upright.
6. Adhere to a schedule
If you plan your daily schedule, you won’t have to think about what to do next each time you finish a task. This saves time and lets you plan the most efficient way to use the time during your work hours.
7. Select the right area in your house
Consider what type of work you’ll be doing and select the right space for that task. If you are typing a lot, you might want an area that resembles an office work desk, with minimal clutter and appropriate lighting. For more creative work, consider a space with a scenic view. A space near a large window or a view of your garden would be great.
8. Get some fresh air
Sitting for long periods could tire your body quickly. In addition, a plush office chair could make you very comfortable chair, making you too relaxed that you’re not able to do enough work.
For productivity, think about getting up and moving around at least once every hour or two. It’s even more refreshing to step outside for some warm sunlight and fresh air.
9. Don’t get caught up in your email
If you receive tons of emails daily, you know that it can take up a lot of time. Don’t let this distract you at the start of your workday. Sift through your emails, and focus on the most important once first.
Source: ShutterstockYou could go through the rest of them later in the day. It would also be best to set a time to work on your emails and for how long you’ll be focusing on them.
10. Keep distractions to a minimum
Try to focus on your work tasks without other types of stimuli in your environment. Turn off the TV and close social media apps. If you don’t need a web browser for work, don’t have it open on your screen.
11. Shut down the computer when done
When you’re finished with your work session, log off your work devices the same way you would at the office. This frees up time for you to tend to matters of your home and family. It also helps you wind down at the end of the evening.
12. Don’t cheat yourself on sleep
One of the most important things for health and energy level is to get adequate sleep. If you’re striving for high productivity, this is just as important as other aspects of your work routine.
It can be tough to get a lot of work done at home, but there are many ways to get a good rhythm going in a home environment. After you put these 12 tips into practice, you might forget that you’re at home and fall into the same work pattern that you’re used to at the office.
