For freelancers and online business owners like me, working from home is nothing new.
Personally, I love that I get to set my own hours, design my own schedule, and even go out for a walk or run some errands in the middle of the day if I wanted to.
But looking back, I remember how challenging it was when I started working from home. I had been so used to having a 8-5 job with a lunch break at noon that for the first few days, I felt so uneasy and unsure of what I was supposed to do and when.
The freedom was a gift but there was definitely a learning curve when it came to managing yourself and staying productive day in and day out.
So, if you’re feeling the same way, you’ve come to the right place because in this post I’ll be sharing 12 productivity tips for working from home.
1. Create a schedule
Having some form of structure will help you stay focused throughout the day so we recommend creating a schedule you can stick to.
Are you someone who benefits from having a strict schedule with meetings and tasks assigned to each minute of the day?
Or do you respond more to a guideline-type of schedule with just a list of tasks you plan to complete throughout the day?
Whichever you prefer, take note that different people have different working styles and it might take some trial and error to figure out yours.
But once you determine how you work best and when you do your best work, you’ll gradually be more productive as the weeks pass.
2. Develop routines
Routines allow you to develop multiple positive and productive habits and knock them down one right after the other.
You can develop routines for starting your day off on the right foot (called a morning routine) or ending your day on a high note (called an evening routine).
You can even develop other kinds of routines such as a pre-work routine or post-work routine.
For example, before getting started with work, we like to prepare some coffee, clear all distractions from our workspace, and look over our priority tasks for the day.
Then as we end our workday, we like to go over our notes, clean up our workspace, and list down our priority tasks for the next day so we could hit the ground running first thing in the morning.
3. Set and observe work hours
It’s important to set boundaries between your work and home life so be sure to set and observe working hours.
If you’re an employee, your office hours may already be set for you but if you’re working for yourself, take note of when you do your best work.
Do you prefer to work in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Are you an early bird or night owl? Do you have other responsibilities at home (ex. taking care of children, running errands, or house chores)?
Whatever your situation, set your working hours based on what works best for you and don’t forget to also set the time you’ll shut down for the day so you can rest properly and not burn out.
4. Schedule breaks
People who work from home tend to forget to take breaks so this can lead to burnout or even more serious health problems.
The best way to actually take breaks? Schedule it!
Set an alarm, keep it in the back of your mind, or add it to your daily planner to take your lunch break, walk around, take frequent water breaks, or even take a quick nap.
PRO TIP #1: Too much time spent looking at your screen can cause eye strain so try to look away from your monitor every 30 minutes. Focus on something dark across your room to give your eyes a break.
PRO TIP #2: Sitting down too long isn’t healthy so be sure to get up, step away from your desk, and walk around every hour.
PRO TIP #3: Go outside and take in some sun and nature if possible. Your eyes, mind, and body will thank you for a respite from work and all of your devices.
5. Designate a workspace
Whether your home office is a spare bedroom, a corner with a desk, or your dining table in between meal times (we’ve been there!), designating an official workspace at home will help get you concentrate better and fully get into work mode.
PRO TIP: Set up your workspace in a functional way that makes the most sense for you and for the work you do but don’t forget to make it personal too. Add in some picture frames, plants, motivational quotes, or anything that inspires or motivates you to be productive.
6. Use your preferred tools
The best tools are the tools that you can actually use and benefit from.
It doesn’t matter if it’s fancy software, expensive tech, or the latest device if it doesn’t help you do your best, most productive work.
Are you more comfortable using a laptop or a desktop? A standing desk or a regular desk?One monitor or dual monitor? Adobe or Canva? Asana or Trello?
Take note of the tools that are common in your industry or recommended by your colleagues but make sure to test which ones work best for you.
PRO TIP #1: Speaking of tools and tech, be sure to keep all of your apps, devices, and software updated to keep them secure and glitch-free.
PRO TIP #2: Organizing your physical workspace is just as important as organizing your digital workspace aka your computer, phone, and tablet. Make it a point to go over your devices to declutter and backup every few months.
7. Avoid distractions and time-wasters
Take note of the things that distract you throughout your day and make a point to eliminate or avoid them as much as possible.
A distraction is relative to every person (ex. some people find loud music motivating but it can be a nuisance to others) but a few common examples include social media, phone notifications, TV, or news and entertainment websites (ex. Buzzfeed, Youtube).
Don’t forget that it’s best not to let your work time drag on and on. Commit to focus and actually work during the time you’re supposed to be working.
8. Get dressed
Your work from home outfit will depend on your job and work situation of course (ex. if you’re going to be on Zoom or video chat, obviously don’t wear pajamas) but while there might not be a need for strict office attire, at least consider changing out of your sleepwear.
By getting dressed for work, it’ll be easier for you to get into work mode and doing this will signal to your brain that it’s time to start getting things done.
9. Choose healthy food and snacks
What you eat throughout the day affects your energy levels so opt for healthy food and snacks to help you stay productive.
Take note that this starts with what you buy at the grocery store. By making sure that you have nutritious food and snacks readily available at home, it’ll be easier for you to reach for them throughout the day. Veggies, fruits, and nuts are good choices but feel free to mix things up once in a while.
10. Check in with people
Working from home can get pretty lonely and isolating at times so make it a point to connect with other people throughout the day (or at least once a day).
Chat with fellow business owners or check in with your co-workers. Call your friends or message your family members and ask them about their day.
11. Communicate your boundaries
No matter how much you plan to be productive, you’re bound to be disturbed or distracted at some point.
Whether you’re working with a remote team or you’re living with other people, be sure to set boundaries and communicate it with everyone you interact with.
Respectfully lay down some ground rules when they can talk to you, how to reach out, and when you absolutely shouldn’t be disturbed.
12. Reward yourself
Speaking from experience, putting too much pressure on yourself can be demotivating and unhealthy which is why it’s important to give yourself grace for working from home.
Whether you’re an employee or working for yourself, it can be challenging to manage and motivate yourself on a daily basis especially if you’re starting out.
Why not go easy on yourself and reward yourself from time to time?
A reward is a personal choice of course but at the very least, acknowledge and reward yourself for tasks and projects you complete, for your effort and small wins, and for simply showing up and doing your best.
Over to You
For freelancers and online business owners like me, working from home is nothing new. But no matter how long you’ve been doing this, it can still be challenging at times so consider these 12 productivity tips for working from home: create a schedule, develop routines, set and observe work hours, schedule breaks, designate a workspace, use your preferred tools, avoid distractions and time-wasters, get dressed, check in with people, choose healthy food and snacks, communicate your boundaries, and reward yourself.
If you're currently looking for work, check out these work-from-home jobs on Jooble.
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