Working at home comes with all sorts of distractions. From the temptation to turn the tv on, to the ability to take an extended lunch break because nobody is watching, to trying to tune out the sound of the dog barking at the mailman.
While working at home comes with benefits, it can also be a bit challenging sometimes. Outside distractions can limit your productivity.
If you’re currently in a situation where you’re working from home, you might be looking for tips and tricks to stay as productive as possible. After all, the work has to get done!
Here are some tips that will help you boost your productivity.
Get ready in the morning
It may be tempting to roll out of bed and start working, but this isn’t recommended. You’re more likely to feel as though you have the day off! The best way to be productive is to get up and go about your morning as though you were going to work.
Getting ready in the morning is more likely to make you feel like you’re heading off to work. By the time you’re sitting at your computer, you’ll be ready to work!
Find a dedicated space
Working from the couch and watching television might sound nice, but you’re more likely to get distracted this way. The best way to be productive while at home is to come up with a dedicated space for your office.
Keep your work computer and any supplies you need in that one area. Preferably, this space will not be in the main living area of your house, so that you can distance yourself from it at the end of the day.
Have goals in mind
Whenever you start your day, come up with a list of goals you want to accomplish. This can help keep you on track throughout the day so that you’re not tempted to get distracted.
SMART goals provide you with a framework for structure. Set a goal, think about how you will measure results, think about how you will accomplish the goal, make sure the goal is relevant to your work, and set a time-frame during which you’ll achieve that goal.
Keep a schedule
Make sure that you keep a schedule throughout the day. It might be tempting to start and stop working whenever you want, but that can be disruptive to your workflow. While you might not need to start right at 8am and stop at 4pm, you’re still going to want some sort of schedule.
Start working and stop working at the same time each day. Also, make sure to incorporate breaks into your schedule, so you can recharge.
Make healthy choices
When you’re working from home, it might be tempting to eat whatever you want or to stop exercising. Eating right and exercising can help you feel motivated, which can lead to a boost in productivity.
One idea is to use a standing desk, so you can move from sitting to standing throughout the day. Standing desks are popular because they help prevent back and other body aches. You can visit heightadjustabledesksonline.com for all your needs related to standing desks.
Stay off social media
Social media can be distracting when you’re trying to work. It might be tempting to leave a browser open to Facebook or Twitter, but this could lead you down a dangerous path of distraction.
You might log onto Facebook to update your status. But, the next thing you know, you’re clicking over to a recommended website or chatting with a friend. You can avoid falling into the social media trap while you’re trying to work by staying off of it.
Set expectations
If you’re working from home and there are other family members in the house, they might think it is okay to come and chat with you while you’re working. However, chatting with family members is very distracting!
Let your family know what your hours are and tell them to only interrupt you in the event of an emergency. If you have young children, find someone else to keep them occupied while you’re trying to work. Setting expectations can lead to a more productive day.
Final thoughts
While working from home has its benefits, it can also come with distractions. If you want to be as productive as possible when you’re home, find ways to create a distraction-free work environment. You’ll also want to keep a consistent work schedule and set goals for yourself, just like you would if you were going into the office.