Struggling to stay motivated when working from home? Need a boost of inspiration and focus to get you through the day? Read on below for 5 quick tips that will improve your productivity while working from home.
While we’re all familiar with productivity being wrongly measured as a function of hours spent in the office in front of the computer screen, there are plenty of ways for remote workers to be more efficient than their office counterparts. The key is remaining productive so we don’t end up putting in longer days at home.
There are always those little things that get in the way of productivity such as noisy kids, easy access to the fridge, or making dinner. However, there are ways you can stay focused while working from home so you don’t get distracted by other things like this!
Here are my working from home tips for productivity:
- Dress for work
- Use your webcam in meetings
- Take breaks
- Separate workspace and relaxation spaces
- Avoid multitasking
Dress for work
“I get to work in my pyjamas all day, it’s great!”. But is it? Are pyjamas your go-to clothing choice when you want to feel good about yourself? Or are they lazy Sunday attire?
Getting dressed for work is a great idea if you’re someone who tends to lose motivation when staying in your pyjamas all day. Getting dressed in clothes that make you feel good can help motivate you to get things done!
A strong benefit of working from home is being able to wear what you want, but if you want to remain productive, then joggers and a dirty t-shirt may not be the right choice for you.
This doesn’t mean we need to suit up every morning, although if that’s what you feel confident in then go for it! Even changing into some clean jeans and a t-shirt that you feel good in can help create a divide between a lazy day at home and a productive day at work.
It’s also important to dress according to the weather, which we may be able to do more effectively while working from home. So many workplaces still have dress codes and many won’t even allow employees to wear shorts in the height of summer. Take advantage of working from home and dress in what makes you feel good and comfortable. A pair of shorts and a light shirt – winning!
Side note: what really grinds my gears is when companies force dress codes Monday through Thursday but then have dress down Fridays. If the look of the employee is so important, why isn’t it important on Fridays? Away with dress codes!
Turn that camera on to stay focused in meetings
There are many ways to keep yourself on task and focused, but one that stands out is the use of a webcam.
When you’re working from home, it’s easy to get distracted by your surroundings – especially if you have kids or pets at home. This is where having a webcam comes in handy. If used sparingly, like in meetings, a webcam can keep us that little bit more focused.
With a webcam on, it will be hard for you not to stay on task because someone is watching what you’re doing. You will be less likely to check your phone, or mute your mic and start talking to your partner.
But I do mean to use this sparingly. Having a webcam on constantly can actually be a stressful experience. Being constantly presented with your face on screen and feeling the pressure of many eyes looking at you isn’t necessarily a good thing. Use a webcam when you feel your concentration slipping, but don’t overuse it.
Side note: if you work for a company that forces employees to have their webcams on 9-5 and tracks your mouse/keystrokes etc. then get out! That is not a productive or pleasant environment. Seek out a company that trusts in its hiring ability and its employees.
Take breaks
Many of us won’t have a problem with taking breaks while working from home, but are you taking effective breaks?
Taking a 5-minute break to check social media isn’t the same as getting up and walking about. Nor is a 2-minute day dream the same as resting your eyes and getting out of your home office.
The beauty of working from home is that we can take breaks and not feel like everyone else is wondering why we aren’t working. At home we don’t have this pressure to ‘look busy’, we can focus on having a break that is truly restful.
So what can we do on a break to maximise our rest and boost productivity?
- Go for a nap at lunch. You may be surprised what a 20-minute nap can do for your energy levels.
- Go for a walk outside.
- Go for a run, or do some other type of physical activity. You don’t even need to worry about being sweaty and smelly afterwards!
- Chat with your partner, play with your kids, and enjoy your break in the comfort of your own home.
Separate workspace and relaxation spaces
When you work from home, it’s important to make sure that your work space is separate from your relaxation space.
Think about how much time you spend in each room. If your office is also where you watch TV, sleep, eat and read, it will be hard for you to disconnect from work when you need a break. And hard for you to focus on work when you finish your break.
This can lead to burnout over time because the lack of separation between different activities means less opportunity for rest and renewal.
Of course, a separate room with a door you can shut is optimal for creating that mental divide between work and home life and for creating a sound barrier between meetings and manic kids.
If you can’t have your workspace in a separate room then still try to separate it as much as you can from everyday life. This may even be a case of clearing everything off the dining room table so it has a different feel from when it is being used for family meals.
Avoid multitasking
Multitasking is not productive. We’ve all heard this before, but it’s probably worth saying again: multitasking is not productive and a real concern when working from home.
To be effective, we need to focus, and multitasking is the killer of effectiveness. Studies have shown that multitasking is a myth, and even those who think they can do it well are simply doing both jobs less well.
So with that in mind, ensure you are focusing as much as possible on one task. If it’s time to work, then work. Don’t bring your laptop into the kitchen so you can cook and write emails at the same time. The emails will be rushed and the dinner will be burnt.
Instead, focus on the emails first and then cook. Or vice-versa. If you have to work an extra 20-minutes later on to make up for the time spent cooking then at least you will have 20-minutes of focused work. And an enjoyable dinner!
Remember that just because you are working at home, that doesn’t mean you should be doing all the things you would be doing on a day off. You are still working and you deserve to have the focus you need to work. If that means putting the kids in daycare or an after-school club then do it! You would have to if you were working in the office, so do it while working at home. Think of the money you are saving by not commuting and offset that against the cost of childcare.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember when working from home is that you have to be the one to hold yourself accountable. You have to make sure that you are productive and that you keep up with your work. Hopefully, the above five tips will help you do just that.
And finally, if you have no interest in remaining productive, then not only was this post probably not for you but also, change job! Go find something that sparks your interest and makes you want to be productive. Life is far too short to slave away at a job you hate!
Thanks for reading
Iain McClafferty – The Five Year Mortgage
