Feature Image by Annie Spratt
Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you don’t have to deal with a stressful commute, you don’t have to worry about your boss watching your every move, and you can do all your work in an environment that makes you feel comfortable. On the other hand, it’s super easy to get distracted by things around the house. You can even get a little lazy if you’ve set yourself up in a place that’s too comfortable like the bed or couch.
Staying productive when you work from home is honestly a lot harder than it seems. It’s something you have to get used to. Since many of us are working from home at this time, here are some tips for staying productive.
Create a morning routine
Just because you don’t have to wake up at 5 a.m. every day to beat the traffic, it doesn’t mean that you should just roll out of bed and log on. Creating a morning routine that you stick to will keep you in the mindset that this is still a workday, and it’s time to get work done. It’s all about starting the day with a focused mind.
Get dressed as if you were going to work
You don’t have to dress in your usual business attire – unless you want to of course. Just don’t stay in your pajamas all day. When you need to work from home for an indefinite amount of time, like now, all the days can blur together. If you take the time to get dressed, do your hair, and maybe even put a little makeup on each morning, it can help you feel refreshed so you can tackle the day ahead.
Have a designated office space
If you don’t already have an office in your home, create a space for yourself that can help you feel like you’re going to work. Make it a point to stay there for the entire time you need to work. If you happen to live with other people, like your partner, a roommate, or your kids, being seated at the “office” can give a signal to them that it’s your time to work and you shouldn’t be bothered.
Set a timer whenever you need to take a break
The best part about working from home is you don’t have to feel like you’re chained to your desk. You have the freedom to move around and do whatever you want. The danger in this is you can get easily distracted doing housework or watching TV, and then all your motivation to work goes away. So the key here is to set a timer for how long your break should be, that way your five-minute break isn’t an hour and a half long.
Download a productivity app
There really is an app for everything. If you’re someone who gets easily distracted by social media, there are apps you can download that can temporarily block websites while you’re working. If you’re into checklists, an app like ToDoist can help you accomplish what needs to be done each day.
Have a set amount of hours you work each day
When you’re working from home, it’s easy to lose that sense of work-life balance. So it’s important to schedule your day and give yourself a set amount of hours for work, self-care, and time spent with loved ones both in-person and virtually. When it’s time to stop working, log off and finish your work tomorrow.
If you have the luxury of setting your own hours, figure out the time of day when you’re most productive. For instance, some people can get a ton of work done in the morning, while others thrive in the afternoon. If you know you’re more productive at a certain time of day, set your hours around that.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
