5 Tips for staying productive while you’re working from home

Plenty of people have been fantasizing about working from the comfort of their own home, and with the spread of the COVID-19, it became a reality for a lot of workers.

Working remotely can seems fun at first sight but it can rapidly become easy to forget you’re actually “Working from home”.  Trying to focus when you could watch that Netflix show or with the kids playing around can become a struggle to stay productive.

 

So, here are 5 tips for staying productive:

#1: Set your workplace:

Determine from where you will be working. If you already have a home office or dedicated place, great. Otherwise mark off some sort of workstation or area for yourself. It will also help you keep your work life and your home life separate. Try to avoid the couch or your bed.

Head to the same spot to work each day. Train your brain that this area is where your job happens, and the rest of your house is where your life happens.

 

#2: Set your schedule

Many companies offer “flexible hours” but in order to stay productive, it is important to set primary working hours and stick to them. These hours don’t have to be 9-5, but they do have to suit your company schedule

Getting ready for work is one thing but getting started is another. Setting a firm schedule and daily routine will go a long way to keeping you productive.

Don’t forget to take breaks and have lunch. It is important to have a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Finally, with a set schedule, it is easier to communicate with your coworkers or your superior. And with all the existing online collaboration tools, that “end of day” seems more significant when everyone says bye or “see you tomorrow”.

 

#3: Plan ahead and set goals

Plan your days out. Check the priorities with your company and make a to-do lists for yourself of all the work tasks you want or need to accomplish each day and for the week.

Split the work in chunks and do the tasks one after the other.

When working from home, it is important to stay focus, away from any distractions and to keep track of your time. A simple distraction can make a basic one-hour task become a full day of work.,

Making the extra efforts to do one task at the time and finish it properly will bring you a lot of satisfaction.

 

#4: Stay connected

Working from home can be much more comfortable than commuting to an office, but it can also be incredibly isolating.

Don’t just work all day all by yourself. Set daily online meetings or check in with your colleagues and supervisor regularly. It will help you feel you’re part of the team.

If you have the option, you can also stay connected with a teammate. Basically, get yourself some human interaction.

Obviously, you should communicate about work, as that’s not only a basic job requirement, it’s also one way for people to know you’re staying productive.

 

#5: After work, go home

Once you’re done for the day, leave your workspace, shut your computer, and step away from the job. It’s even more important to keep these boundaries fiercely drawn when you’re working from home.

Don’t forget to tell your coworkers your day is done before leaving. It is an easy way to reinforce relations within a team..

 

And you are set for success!