How to Stay Productive While Working from Home

Working from home impacts each person differently. Some become more productive because they have more control over their work environment. Others may be less productive due to the distractions that come with working at home. Everyone is different, but at some point most people see a slow down in their work speed. The slow down is usually due to a mix of burnout and distraction. You can maintain higher levels of productivity while working from home, it just takes some forethought.

Keep your routine

The way you start your day matters just as much now as it did when you went to an office to work. Working from home makes it tempting to sleep in because your commute is just to the space you use for work. To keep your day on track, keep a schedule or task list and enable the reminders. This helps keep some structure in place when you don’t have colleagues to keep you accountable. Sticking with your routine also applies to breaks. Continue to take your breaks as you would when working from the office. This is a good chance to move around, rest your eyes, and eat a meal. This goes a long way when you’re trying to avoid feeling burnt out. 

Designate a workspace

One of the biggest issues with working from home is getting others to realize that you’re at work. If you live alone, this usually isn’t a problem, but if you live with others, it can be a huge distraction. This is why you should create a designated workspace. Ideally, your workspace is a room that you can physically close off from others in your home. This isn’t always possible, but there are still options if you don’t have the space for a full home office. Creating a space specifically for work is also a great way to keep yourself in the proper mindset. If you’re at a desk or table with everything you need, your mind can more easily switch to work mode. It can be difficult to focus when you’re on the couch in front of the television. Regardless of where you make your workspace, cutting down on distractions is vital when it comes to staying productive.

Stay balanced

When you work from home, maintaining a healthy work life balance can be difficult. Without a physical boundary between the two, you have to be intentional in setting your own boundaries. A great way to enforce that boundary is to set your working hours and stick to them. The occasional email or quick conversation happens, but don’t make it a habit to work after your work day ends. By balancing work and your personal life, you’re less likely to reach the point of burnout. 

Working from home is the new normal, and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s all about creating an environment that allows you to focus and knowing when to log off.

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