The past few years have changed how we do everything, including day-to-day work. Though we are approaching a new normal, many people are continuing to (or starting to) work from home. Therefore, to help you achieve a successful homework life, here are the 10 best tips for working from home.
1. Have a Workspace
Firstly, while working at home may seem like a dream concept of laying on the couch while typing emails, there’s a reason we sit at desks. A dedicated workspace is necessary for efficiency and productivity.
Therefore, it is utterly crucial to establish a place that you can go to for your work activities. Whether it be your kitchen table or a completely designated office, stay away from your normal comfortable places.
Afterall, explaining to your boss why you fell asleep in your bed during work is a lot harder than just sitting at a table.
Remember that there are benefits to working in your own space, though. You are free and able to have all the amenities you may need. Perfect lighting and correct seating arrangements are entirely up to you.
2. Get Dressed
As previously stated, the homework concept might seem great for relaxation, but the further you stray from your normal activities, the further you stray from your normal productivity.
Henceforth, getting dressed in your daily attire is a must in feeling and working like yourself.
While the concept of getting ready may not be as stressful as usual, wearing the pajamas you slept in will only make you feel sluggish. The idea is to feel like you are going to work. You might not need to wear a suit, but you definitely need to wear something.
Secondly, don’t let your personal hygiene fall to the wayside. Take care of yourself as usual. This will only help you feel better in the long run.
3. Routine, Routine, Routine
Structure is a critical human facet. While all of our jobs might not follow a rigid schedule, creating one can help boost work ethic and overall efficiency.
Firstly, take note of what you need to get done for the day. How long do you need to answer emails? How long will it take to finish that report? Set a routine for yourself and stick to it.
Having your workday planned out can help keep you focused. You have no time for your mind to wander when you know what needs to be done.
Bonus: If things get stale (and your job permits) you can always switch up your routine to keep things fresh. Maybe work on that one project last instead of first.
4. Set Times and Don’t Allow for Overflow
Previously, I stated that a routine is necessary. While your planned activities are important, so are when you do them.
Working from home should not mean you wake up when you want. This will only lead to lethargy and time crunches. Set a time to get up, get ready and get started. Keeping on these times, as you would if you had to report to the office, will keep you from feeling rushed.
Secondly, set an end time. Surprisingly, it is very easy for work to overflow into your personal life when they take place in the same location. When your time for work is done, start to wrap up. It’s important to keep a healthy balance between work and life.
5. Stay in Contact With Your Coworkers
Working from home can be a lonely experience. Human contact is important in keeping your mind healthy and working.
This tip may be hard to put into action, but it is possible. Keep lines of communication to coworkers open. Meetings on applications like Zoom can help you feel fresh, communicative and keep efficiency high. It’s also nice to see a friendly face!
In addition, daily communication can be a great way to keep your energy and spirits high. While there may no longer be water-cooler conversations, having open chats with coworkers on apps like Slack and Google Chat can be a great way to keep things feeling normal.
6. Get Some Sun
Working from home means your need to go outside during the day is decreased immensely.
Henceforth, you may not see the sun as much as you used to. But this should not be. Time in direct sunlight is crucial for higher levels of energy, less stress and Vitamin D intake.
Go out and get some sun. Whether it be standing outside for a few minutes or doing a yard-related activity on your break. Not only will it help your work day, it’ll also increase your overall health.
7. Take Breaks
If you’re being productive in your work, it’s okay to step away from the computer for a few minutes.
As a matter of fact, small breaks are great for increasing your focus. So, set some time for yourself during the day, but make sure to keep disciplined.
Bake breaks into your schedule. Maybe set 15 minutes aside to do some yoga or step outside after you finish up a chunk of work. Maybe take five minutes to make a coffee after your morning emails. It’s okay to step aside, as long as you stick to your schedule. A break can be a great refresh.
8. Set Boundaries
Normally, you wouldn’t have friends stopping by or a list of household chores during your office day. You shouldn’t have these things during your work day at home, either.
It’s important to set boundaries for yourself and others. It’s not impudent to ask the people around you to respect your work and focus by avoiding engagements.
Once again, this becomes a matter of discipline, something you must work on to be productive in your homework. Try to keep away from those home-based distractions. Getting household tasks done during your workday may seem like an efficient bonus, but it’ll crush your work ethic overall. After all, work is still work regardless of location.
9. Avoid Social Media
This tip may seem like a no-brainer, but all of us fall into this trap eventually. Unless necessary for your job, social media can be a colossal timesuck.
If you find yourself spending too much time scrolling through the boundless reaches of Twitter and Instagram, log out. It can be helpful to log out of the apps on both your phone and computer, limiting the temptation to take a quick peek. Which, as we all know, can turn into hours.
Discipline is the key to working at home.
10. Keep a Physical Calendar
Calendar applications on both your phone and computer can be a great way to keep your schedule in check, but nothing beats tangible objects.
Henceforth, keeping a physical calendar near your designated workspace can be a great way to maintain productivity.
It may sound abstract, but writing out your daily schedule and deadlines on an actual calendar can help keep you motivated and on schedule. Being able to see your schedule at a glance also helps.
Technology is great, but nothing beats the classics.
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