How to stay productive while working from home

Working from home has contributed to productivity growth for some, while productivity has fallen for others. In the time of the pandemic, many have realised just how much of everyday tasks can be done from home. Therefore it’s become a new reality for a lot of people.

While working from home can be very efficient and, no doubt, comfortable, not everybody can maintain their high levels of productivity for long. Therefore it’s important to figure out how to stay productive while working from home.

In this article we’ve compiled a list of a few suggestions that seem to work for us. Hope it helps you too!

Stay in touch with your colleagues regularly

working from home

When working remotely, productivity can decline due to an inner feeling that no one knows and understands you. You can pretty soon start thinking about how much is being done alone and what the challenges of the current job are. 

To prevent this, it would be a good idea to talk regularly with your coworkers about your work, achievements, things that worry you and what still needs to be achieved. 

You should agree with the team on a time to spend talking to each other. Share what you have done so that the whole team feels united and mutually informed about what is going on. And whatever the way of communication is, the key is to make it a regular routine. Then surely mutual communication will become an integral part of work organization.

Divide your day into parts

working from home tips

While working at home, the lines between work and rest can start to get blurry. Especially if you work at a place where it allows you to get things done in your own preferred time. Then pretty quickly getting something done at 10AM can be postponed to 1PM, then to 3PM and so on. You get the idea.

Use the so-called open environment principle. For example, do tasks that require a high level of concentration early in the morning before children begin to demand their attention and other at-home issues and distractions arise. 

In the middle of the day, plan a short walk in the fresh air with family or friends. It has been proven that a walk in the fresh air contributes to the emergence of ideas. And perhaps such a break will help to solve an issue or problem at work.

Create your workplace

working from home workplace

Working at home can easily mean trying to get things done on the couch or maybe even sitting by the dining table. Sometimes it’s good to switch things up and change your location, however you should still set a working place for yourself. Think of it as your private office. You should have a workplace at your home that you only do work by.

Whether you come to work in the office or remotely, there are a number of things that help you feel good and increase productivity. One of them is a tidy and adapted work environment. Therefore, if there is an opportunity to create a permanent workplace at home, it would be desirable to do so. 

Not only does it help you focus and concentrate on work responsibilities, but it is also clear to other homeowners that you are working at the right place and time. When decorating a workplace, it is worth thinking about an ergonomic chair and table. Do that as well as properly placed lighting. Don’t forget about room ventilation.

Make a to-do list for each day

working from home

When working from home, it is important not only to set long-term goals, but also to make a list of tasks for each day. This allows you to keep track of your progress in terms of job performance and not lose productivity. 

Also, when working from home, it is often possible to lose your sense of time and dedicate longer hours to work. You don’t have to drive anywhere, you don’t have to hurry anywhere etc. However, such an approach can be detrimental to physical and mental health in the long term, so it is important to distinguish between working time and leisure time. Which leads us to the next tip.

Plan time to relax

working from home

If you do not devote enough time to rest and your personal interests,  then your productivity will sooner or later experience a decline. It may also seriously affect physical and mental health. 

Therefore, it is important to remember the following suggestions.

It is necessary to plan movement breaks during the working day. To get up, stretch, go to drink water, perform some exercises that relax the neck, back, arm and leg muscles.

Take complete time off for lunch. It can seem like a little moment of your day that only slows you down. So why not do emails while eating lunch, right? Wrong! Sometimes all you need to clear your mind is 10 minutes. So taking off your whole 30 minute lunch break can be very useful for your productivity. Don’t miss out on that.

Daily routine helps to maintain productivity. Enough time for sleep, exercise, eating, hobbies, quality time with family or friends is very detrimental. Not to forget things that have been important so far can also be helpful. Those can be morning rituals, appropriate clothing etc. It may feel fine to start your work in pajamas, but at the end of the day it will only get in the way of work productivity. Dress up and fool your mind that you’re going to the office – you will feel more productive.

Hopefully these tips have helped you! Stay focused and productive at work!

Check out our other articles on different kinds of tips such as Infused Water: Healthy Recipes and How to keep coffee hot longer.

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