Getting Things Done: How to Be More Productive at Home
It used to be that just seven percent of US workers had the option to work from home. In today’s COVID-19 environment, tens of millions of people are being forced into remote work situations.
While many of us have been surprised by just how much we’ve been able to get done from home in recent months, lack of productivity may be plaguing your telecommute day. To help, we’re sharing a few how to be more productive at home tips!
Armed with this insight, you may find that you’re able to meet or even surpass the output you enjoyed when you were in your company’s office.
1. Set Boundaries With Your Family
People who have worked from home before COVID-19 know that it can be hard to get family members to respect that just because you’re not out of the house doesn’t mean you’re not working. To ensure that disruptions are at a minimum during your workday, let your partner, kids or whoever else know that during work hours, you’re not to be disturbed unless it’s an emergency.
That boundary may take a few reminders but if you’re diligent, you’ll find that fewer people will nudge you during the day.
2. Have a Dedicated Workspace
Routine is a huge contributor to productivity. That’s why one of our top tips on how to be more productive at home is to do your work from the same spot daily.
Ideally, this spot is a zone that’s just used for work (meaning not your bed). Also, try to make sure that your spot is as separated from noise and other distractions as possible. If avoiding noise is a tall task in your home, invest in earplugs.
3. Work Around Set Hours
Rather than just checking into work whenever you roll out of bed, treat working from home like you would working from the office as far as time goes.
Wake up at the same time each morning. Take a shower, have breakfast, and do whatever else you need to do. Then at 9 am, log onto your computer and work through till lunch and at the end of the day.
Again, routine and productivity go hand in hand. By making your use of time routine, you’ll get more done.
4. Turn on Your Camera
It can be tempting to hide during this remote period by never turning on your camera during meetings. Fight that urge!
Turning on your camera will not only give you some potentially needed face to face social interaction but will also force you to put yourself together each morning which can go a long way when it comes to getting into a work mindset.
5. Take Breaks
We’ve all been in that place where we should be working but our brains are done. Rather than trying to push through that, step away from your computer and take fifteen minutes to take a walk, bust out that portable pour over coffee and enjoy a drink or do anything else non-work-related.
When you come back to the task at hand, you may discover a second wind of creative energy!
Most How to Be More Productive at Home Tips Come Down to Being Consistent
At the end of the day, if you want to know how to be more productive at home, put a premium on consistency. With the right routine in place, your brain will settle into the flow of working remotely and will start producing better results.
If you’re hungry for more lifestyle tips, check the newest content we have up on our blog!
