Working from home is a great option for many people. You can set your own hours, and you don’t have to commute. But there are some challenges to working from home too; especially if you’re trying to stick with a regular work schedule. Here’s how to stay productive when working from home.
Create a designated workspace
The first step in staying productive when working from home is to designate a designated workspace. You should pick a space that is quiet and away from distractions, with a comfortable chair, desk or table, good internet connection and phone connection. A good place to start is the guest bedroom. Make sure it has lighting that’s easy on your eyes; if possible, get some natural light coming through window blinds or open curtains during daylight hours.
Have a morning routine
When you work from home, it’s easy to stay in bed all day without getting out of your pajamas. But having a morning routine can keep you on track and help maintain structure in your day. Take 10 minutes before breakfast to check email and send out any messages that need to be sent off at the beginning of the day. You could also use this time for other routines, such as meditation or yoga—whatever works best for you! Having some sort of daily ritual will help ensure that you’re dedicating enough time to self-care throughout the workday.
Dress for Work
Dress for the job you want and not the job you have. If it is a professional setting where there will be clients or colleagues in the office, then yes — don’t stay in your pajamas.
Wear comfortable clothing that fits well and looks good on you. In other words: Dress for success!
Set Office Hours
This is a good time to set office hours and stick to them. The reason for this is because, if you’re working from home, there’s no one to tell you when it’s time to clock out. If you work all day long and don’t allow yourself any breaks or relaxation time, your productivity will suffer. You may even find that your energy levels plummet later in the day because you’re so tired!
This doesn’t mean that you have to create an actual schedule—that would be too much work! Just make sure that each section of your day has a purpose.
Sign Off When You’re Done
While it might seem obvious to go through your day with a checklist, it’s often easier said than done to actually sign off before bed. To make sure this happens, you should have a set time when you will be shutting down for the night and then stick to it. If there is work that needs to be done at home, then have an agreement that whoever has been working on the task will let everyone know when they are finished (so everyone knows who is still working). This helps avoid confusion in the morning as well as ensures that any unfinished tasks can be completed before lunch break starts or after work ends so nothing gets left behind or forgotten about completely!
Work-life balance is important to avoid burnout
Take breaks. You don’t need to be glued to your screen all day long. Instead, step away from the computer every 20 minutes or so and do something else for at least five minutes—go for a walk, stretch, or pick up some laundry off the floor. You’ll come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever task you were working on before you stepped away. Make sure to schedule in “me” time as well; take some time each day (or even just once a week) where it’s just about you!
Sign off when you’re done with work in the evening—and don’t pick up again until morning! If this sounds impossible because of deadlines, then set office hours that allow at least 8 hours per night spent away from work in order to prevent burnout over time. Your body needs sleep in order for your brain function properly; without enough restful sleep each night (ideally 7-8 hours), your ability to focus will decrease dramatically over time due to increased stress levels associated with working too much without taking necessary breaks throughout the day.”
We hope these tips help you set up a healthy routine for when you’re working from home. Remember, it’s important to take care of yourself and make sure that your work-life balance is in check. Don’t forget to sign off when you’re done!
