How to Boost Your Productivity Working From Home?
Not everyone has a good time working from home. The pandemic has made many people forget about going to their regular office. Instead, one needs to get used to staying inside and still carry out the tasks just like it was another weekday.
Motivation and productivity are not that simple to find in an environment that you associate with relaxation. Moreover, if you are not surrounded by your colleagues, and nobody supervises you in person, the situation becomes even worse.
So how can you find motivation while you are stuck inside the house but still need to carry on like things were normal? Well, there are multiple ways. Try the suggestions below and see what works for you and what does not.
Suggestion #1 – Clean Your Workspace
Setting up an entire home office is not possible for everyone, but you should still do your best to have a space that is dedicated to working. This will help distinguish the time when you have to work and when you can relax.
When you sit down on your office chair in front of a computer that you use for work, you will know that it is time to get the job done.
When setting up your workspace, make sure to take advantage of available technology. You do not want to encounter problems that may distract or prevent you from doing the tasks.
For example, Bluetooth issues, poor internet connection, and unresponsive mouse or keyboard are more than just distractions. Dealing with these problems simply stops you from accomplishing your work.
Suggestion #2 – Stay in Touch With Your Colleagues
Maintaining good relationships with your colleagues outside of work is a good piece of advice. However, it can be difficult to stay on good terms when you cannot meet in person.
Thankfully, there are multiple communication tools available for those who want to stay in touch with their coworkers. Zoom and Discord are solid options that are free and allow you to voice and video chat with others.
Suggestion #3 – Go Outside When You Can
Countries have different pandemic restrictions, but you should still be able to go outside at least once every day. Taking a breath of fresh air will allow you to relax. Even if it is just for a little bit, getting away from a place where you spend most of your time will do your head loads of good. Do not become a prisoner in your own home.
Suggestion #4 – Take Proper Lunch Break
Instead of having a quick bite and getting back to work right away, aim to have a proper lunch break. It is easy to get caught up in work and forget about eating a healthy meal.
Take the time you have and prepare yourself some food that you can enjoy if you are living alone. Working from home and eating your lunch there instead of eating out also provides an excellent opportunity to become a better cook.
Suggestion #5 – Do Not Procrastinate
Procrastination is also quite common among those who work from home. It is easy to lose track of a schedule, particularly when your work is flexible and your deadline is at the end of the week, not at the end of the day.
Add the fact that you can sleep longer because there is no need to commute to and from work every day. Sleeping in instead of waking up around the usual time is harder.
Even if you are stuck at home, you should still strive to finish work at a reasonable time instead of delaying it to the last minute or staying up until late and messing your schedule even more.
Suggestion #6 – Set Ground Rules and Avoid Distractions
Living alone is easier because you do not have to worry about other people getting in your way. On the other hand, if you do not live alone, you need to set ground rules to make sure that your family or roommates know when they can distract you and when they should stay out of your way and leave you in peace.
Of course, other people are not the only distraction. If you want peace and quiet, you will need to disable smartphone notifications and set your hobbies aside while working. For instance, you may be tempted to read a book if it is on the desk right in front of you.
Suggestion #7 – Reward Yourself
Instead of looking for a way out of work in the form of distractions, leave those for later. That is correct; if you want to find a balance between working, productivity, and motivation, you need to reward yourself.
The reward can be something simple. Maybe there is a new episode of your favorite TV show out, and you are eager to watch it later in the evening? Or maybe you have not had ice cream in forever and would love to eat some after finishing the work? It may not seem like much, but these things can help if you are struggling to force yourself to finish the job on time.
