Last Updated on September 13, 2023 by Carissa
Working from home has become a prevalent and often preferred mode of work in recent years. It offers flexibility, eliminates commuting stress, and provides a comfortable environment. However, the line between work and personal life can blur, leading to potential productivity challenges. It can be a struggle for some people to adjust to a home office when you’re so used to working in an office surrounded by colleagues, or you may not have the appropriate work-from-home setup to help you work effectively. It can be quite daunting if you’ve never worked from home before and are worried about how the change in environment may affect your work and home life.
Having worked from home before for previous companies and also occasionally for myself as a freelancer at Carissa Lam Digital, I thought I’d share my top 10 productivity tips to help you thrive in this setting. These recommendations are designed to help you make the most of your time while working from home, ensuring both efficiency and work-life balance.
Contents
1. Create a Dedicated Workspace
Designate a specific area in your home for work. Having a dedicated workspace not only helps you mentally separate work from leisure but also allows you to keep all your work-related items organized. Ensure your workspace is comfortable and ergonomically designed to minimize distractions and promote productivity.
Get Some Home Office Essentials
Depending on your job, everyone will have different needs for certain equipment to be able to work from home. Some people may only need their laptop to work, others might need to invest in a screen/monitor, a headset, a printer, a mouse and keyboard, desk lighting, or even a better chair for your posture. If you’re going to be working from home for a long time, it would be worth investing in proper equipment to help you to work more effectively. To see my product recommendations for your home office, click here for my Amazon Shop.
2. Establish a Routine
Being in the comfort of your own home, it can be quite tempting to get up at noon, work in your pjs all day or watch tv whilst you work. But establishing a new daily work routine would give you some structure to your day and keep you on track with the things you need to do. You don’t need to stick to your usual 9-5 routine that you used to have at work, as you can take advantage of the fact that you’re at home – so you can allow yourself more flexibility!
Without the morning commute to work, you’ll have more time in the mornings to get ready, make your bed, have breakfast, make a coffee before settling down at your desk for work. Remember to schedule in regular breaks, your lunch break and what time you’ll finish working (it’s so easy to get carried away with work!).
Maintaining a daily routine is crucial for working from home. Set a schedule that aligns with your most productive hours and stick to it as closely as possible. This consistency helps your mind and body adapt to a structured work environment.
3. Dress for Success
While working in your pyjamas might sound appealing, dressing as if you were going to the office can boost your productivity. It signals to your brain that it’s time to work, helping you get into the right mindset.
4. Set Clear Goals and Priorities
Start your day by outlining your tasks and setting clear goals. Prioritize your to-do list and focus on completing high-impact tasks first. This approach ensures that you make progress on essential projects before addressing less critical matters.
5. Take Regular Breaks
When working from home, it’s important to take breaks between your work. I like to set alarms on my phone to remind me when it’s time to take a break, as sometimes you can easily forget when working from home. Make sure you take some time out to stretch, get some fresh air and drink more water! Breaks are essential for maintaining focus and preventing burnout. Incorporate short, frequent breaks throughout your day to recharge. Use techniques like the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) to manage your time effectively.
Move Your Body
Sitting down at your desk for long periods of time can make you cranky and stiff, so make sure you get up from your desk every now and then to stretch and walk around the house, or even set some time to do exercise!
6. Minimize Distractions
It can be really easy to get distracted when working from home, so try to identify common distractions in your home and take steps to minimize them. This could include silencing your phone, or putting your phone far away from you so you won’t be tempted to go on it. Ask others in the house kindly not to distract you whilst you’re working or set some ground rules if you’re all going to be working together in one space; communicating your work hours to family members can help to reduce interruptions. Also, clear up your desk space to make sure it is tidy so you can focus better on your work.
7. Have Effective Communication Tools – Stay Connected
Working from home can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation. Stay connected with colleagues through video conferences, chat apps, or virtual coffee breaks. These interactions not only combat loneliness but also foster teamwork and collaboration. Make sure you’re able to keep in touch with your team whilst you’re working from home. There are lots of effective tools and apps theses days that can help with this! For example, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Slack and Trello are some tools that I like to use!
8. Use Productivity Tools
Leverage productivity tools and apps to streamline your work. Tools like project management software, time tracking apps, and note-taking applications can help you stay organized and efficient. I like to make a to-do-list, which can help you to organise your workload or break down big tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks so that it’s less overwhelming. Without your boss or colleagues around you, there is no one to check up on you, so you need to keep yourself in check.
9. Switch Up Your Environment
If you feel like you’re getting stuck in a rut, try working elsewhere such as at the kitchen or dining table or in your lounge area. A change of environment can improve your mood and can also spark some inspiration. If you work from the bedroom, make sure you have a proper desk set up and that you are not tempted to work on the bed, as this can make you feel very lazy and unproductive. When working from home, it is important to separate your work from your rest, which can be challenging when your home is also your workspace.
10. Practice Self-Care Whilst Working from Home
Prioritize self-care to maintain your physical and mental well-being. Regular exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep are essential. Incorporate mindfulness or meditation practices into your routine to reduce stress and improve focus.
Periodically assess your work-from-home setup and productivity strategies. What’s working well? What needs improvement? Be open to making adjustments based on your experiences and changing circumstances.
I hope you enjoyed this post and found some useful tips for working from home. If you have any tips for working from home, please do share! 🙂
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