Let’s face it, working at home can be fantastic. From avoiding rush hour traffic to having your own office space, there are many advantages to this setup.
However, don’t be fooled. Working from home doesn’t mean you get to slack off—it’s still work! And sadly, it’s quite easy to get sidetracked and lose motivation, especially if you have no built-in boundaries in place between work and me-time.
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to stay in the groove and make the most of your workday while at home.
1) Dress Your Best
Dressing up may seem like an extraordinary waste of time, but don’t skip out on it. This harmless daily ritual can help you get into the right frame of mind for work. If your motivation has taken a downturn the last few days, a little outfit change can be just the thing to give you a mental boost.
Besides, while working in your pyjamas may seem like a fun little act of rebellion at the start, it’s not ideal in the long run. Working in your sleeping clothes makes you feel lethargic and unfocused, which can translate into poorer work performance.
That said, you don’t need to go full suit and tie mode. Changing out of your PJs and wearing semi-decent clothing will be more than enough to help you start the day with the right mindset.
2) Make a Schedule
At the office, you get the convenience of a more or less set daily routine. You sit down in your cubicle, join a few meetings here and there, do more work, and before you know it, it’s time to go home.
When working from home, however, there’s no set schedule to follow—it’s easy to end up working at odd hours and burning the midnight oil more often than you’d like.
One way to combat this is by creating a set morning schedule and daily routine and sticking to it as best as you can. This gives you a sense of accountability and makes it easier to stay focused on your job throughout the day.
3) Leave Some Room for Breaks
While it’s important to make use of your time, working non-stop isn’t the best way to get things done. It can be detrimental even, leading to burnout and a loss of focus.
That’s why it’s essential to schedule some time for breaks and allow yourself to step away from work every once in a while. Step out of the computer, go for a walk, or just take a few minutes to clear your head.
By dedicating some time for rest, you’ll find it easier to stay refreshed and motivated, allowing you to come back to work with a clear head.
4) Have A Designated Workspace
Having a conducive work environment is essential to maintaining focus and productivity. After all, if you’re constantly being distracted by your home surroundings, it’ll be that much harder to get things done.
To combat this, make sure your workspace is meant solely for work. Keep distractions at a minimum and spend some time tidying up your work area regularly, preferably on the weekends.
If you live with pets or tiny children in a tiny studio unit, worrying about them breaking expensive work equipment can be quite bothersome too. Fortunately, home insurance companies can cover these items. Click here to learn more about their coverage options.
5) Listen to Some Tunes
Many people work in cafes and other public places because of the background noise. It helps to drown out the noise in your head and makes it easier to focus.
If you relate to that on a personal level, don’t let working from home stop you from getting that sweet auditory distraction. Many ambient-sound websites can simulate the sound of a busy cafe or a tranquil rainy day.
Instrumental and lo-fi tunes work well too, but if you’re most productive at the tune of heavy metal and loud rock music, be our guest!
6) Talk With Your Colleagues
It’s very possible that being at home too long will make you feel de-attached to your job. If that’s the case, ask a colleague or friend to check in on you every once in a while and give you feedback on your work.
It’s easy to get lost in your thoughts when working from home, and feedback can help to ground you and keep you on track. It also helps to have someone to talk to about work-related matters, so you don’t feel as isolated or unaligned.
7) Limit Phone Usage
It’s hard to stay focused when you’re constantly getting notifications on your phone. Every little ding can be a huge distraction, and before you know it, you’ve wasted an hour scrolling through social media.
To avoid this, limit your phone usage to only when you need it. Put it on silent or Do Not Disturb mode and only check it during scheduled breaks. This way, you can minimise distractions and better focus on your work.
