With the pandemic, working from home has become very popular. Many companies have gone completely remote or adopted some hybrid work model. Working from home can be great, but it requires a lot of discipline. This is because your home can have a lot of distractions that will negatively impact your productivity. If you follow these tips, you are sure to find the sweet spot between working from home and not getting burned out.
Dedicate a Space to Work
While working from home can allow you to work from the couch or your bed, it is important to reserve a space in your home only for work. Not having a designated workspace can take a huge toll on your productivity. Therefore, it is important to work from a consistent room, desk, or chair. This will allow your brain to understand that it is time to work. It is also important to find a place in your home where the wifi works well, and you will be far away from any distractions.
While it can be difficult to focus at home, you need to find a place where you can concentrate and do the work. Digital devices are one of the main distractors in our lives. Therefore, try to keep all social media notifications off during work time. This will allow you to stop wasting minutes checking out a Facebook or Twitter notification. Additionally, pets and children can also be huge distractors. However, you can’t just get rid of them. Try to find a spot for your pet to sit next to you while you work and give yourself a break to play with them if you feel burned out.
Keep Regular Work Hours
If you just started working from home, one of the most important and basic things you can do is to create a work schedule. While working from home gives you the freedom of possibly setting up your work schedule, it can be difficult to find the discipline to consistently work and continue to be productive. You should consider the following:
- When your boss needs you to be available
- Communication with your coworkers and customers
- Time when you are most productive
It is important that you identify the times of the day when you are most productive and work around them. However, you also need to take into consideration when people that you work with are available. One of the cons of working from home is that it can be very isolating, which can also lead to you being less productive. By considering these three factors, you are sure to find a balance.
Create a Routine
When working from home, you should avoid any distractions. Therefore, you should set a daily list of tasks that you need to complete for the day. If you are not sure how long each task will take, test the waters and time yourself doing said task. As you continue to work, you are sure to find the perfect routine to get your work done and still have lunch with your loved ones. When figuring out your routine, try to reflect your energy during the day. If you are most productive in the morning, try doing the more tedious work first, and then leave the more rewarding tasks for the end of your day. If you need a pause in the morning for coffee, do it. It is important to keep yourself productive throughout the day, rather than getting burned out in the long run.
When planning your task list, you should consider the following:
- Do the highest priority tasks first
- Plan your day around your natural cycles
- Plan rewards and break throughout the day
Keep Your Space Clean & Organized
For you to keep a good flow while working, it is important that you keep your space clean and organized. When your workday is over, try to tidy up your area. This will help morning-you have a better start to your day. Additionally, if you have a messy home or office space, your productivity can be negatively affected. Therefore, you should plan on cleaning your space every few days.
Check-In With Coworkers
Working from home can be isolating. Socializing and collaborating with coworkers can take a lot more effort. Therefore, you should make it a habit to reach out to coworkers and check on them a couple of times a week. This will help you keep in contact with coworkers in the long run and talk through any challenges you are going through in a project or work task.
Find Ways To De-Stress
A great aspect of working from home is that you can easily de-stress because you are in the comfort of your home. Therefore, if you are feeling overwhelmed try to take a break and do something that makes you feel more relaxed. We all need a little break. If you have a pet, you can take it out for a walk or play with it. If you have a family with you, go talk to them or take a walk. Even a simple cup of tea can help you feel more relaxed to work on a harder task later.
If you cannot find inspiration, working from home allows you to blast music to get you into the headspace you need. The best part of working from home is that you are in your safe space, and you can make the most of it by finding little things that can help you be more productive. If everything becomes too overwhelming, you can always do something that relaxes you and get back to the task at hand.
If you are planning on continuing to be remote, you can rent a virtual office with Astra Business Centre. Our services include a virtual receptionist, private mailbox rental, and mail handling and forwarding. Additionally, you will have access to boardrooms for meetings and presentations at a central location that is easily accessible to guests. We also offer premium suites and private offices for rent. We have fully furnished units with free high-speed internet, boardroom access, a kitchen common area, weekly cleaning services, and much more. Contact our team to learn more.