There are many benefits when it comes to working from home such as reduced travel time, savings on meals and gas, as well as the comfort of working while wearing any clothes you want. But some homebased workers sometimes struggle with their productivity especially when there are lots of distractions and temptations in a home office. Some of these struggles can include your pet wanting to get your attention, the laundry that needs to be done, as well as your children, neighbor, or significant other.
Based on some studies, working at home can actually result in greater productivity. But it takes a lot of discipline to be able to work effectively at home. So, if you’re working at home and your struggling with being productive, you might find these productivity tips helpful.
Set Up a Good Workspace
Having a good looking workspace can help boost your productivity level. Try to find a good and quiet spot at home and paint it with a soothing color that you like. It’s also great to choose a workspace with windows where you can put plants. This will give you something peaceful to look at. Also, make sure that you have enough space to put everything you need which will help you finish your work easily.
Invest in Comfortable Furniture
Comfort is another important thing you should have while working. When you work from home, you will usually spend most of your time sitting down at your desk. Therefore, it’s important to invest in ergonomic furniture such as an ergonomic chair and a standing desk as well, because standing for a few hours can save your back for pain that can hinder in your productivity.
Dress Like You’re Going to the Office
Even though you’re working from home, it’s still important to have a morning ritual just like how people going to the office does. Though it’s tempting to wake up then just do your work wearing your pajamas, it’s not healthy for your mind and body. To boost up your productivity, try to wake up early, take a bath, and get dressed like you’re heading for a meeting. This can also help you separate your work from your home life.
Organize Your Clutter
If you have a lot of things in your office, try to organize them because that will help save your time. Even though you know where everything is most of the time, there are still times when you find it difficult to look for some things. You can simply arrange your things like putting all the papers in a box and finding a home for your pens and pencils. Having an organized workspace can give you a good and relaxing feeling of working.
Work with Purpose
It’s also effective when you make a list of the tasks you need to accomplish daily. This will help you prepare everything you need for the day ahead of time. Also, as you cross the items off the list when you finish them, it will motivate you to work harder to be able to finish all the tasks listed.
Keep a Schedule
Keeping a schedule can help you maximize your time while you’re working at home. Try to schedule your deep work on times when you’re feeling most productive. Following a schedule will have you achieve a work-life balance.
Take Eye Breaks
If you do your work mostly on a computer, it’s important to take eye breaks. This will help you reduce eye strain. There is a 20-20-20 rule when it comes to eye breaks. You should stop looking at your screen every twenty minutes and instead, stare at something that is 20 yards away for 20 seconds. Having eye strains will make it hard for you to work effectively therefore, avoiding it would be beneficial.
Consider Working from a Co-working Space
There are times when working from home gets boring, that’s why going outside to work can be great. When you’re a homebased worker, you have the freedom to work anywhere you want. Try to work in libraries, coffee shops, or rent a co-working space for a day. Working in these places can help you reevaluate your efforts and it will also give your mind a break from your life at home. You can also earn some friends when you work outside from time to time.
Know When to Stop Working
Working hard for long hours can be noble, but make sure that you take a break and have some time for yourself as well. Know when to unplug from work and try to enjoy for a few hours. This will help you avoid stress and feeling burned out. Refresh your mind once in a while so once you get back to work, you will be more productive.
Putting these into practice will help you become more productive while working at home. We hope these tips will help you boost your daily productivity level.