Working at home can be a great opportunity gain more time in your day to get more work done, spend more time with your family and save on commuting costs. But it can be difficult to stay motivated.
Here are 10 ways to stay motivated and productive when working at home:
1) Get dressed for work, even if you don’t plan on leaving the house
This will help you mentally transition into ‘work mode’. If you can, try to avoid working from your bed or sofa as this can make it harder to draw a line between ‘work mode’ and ‘home mode’. Instead, set up a designated work space in your home where you can sit at a desk or table. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the day.
2) Set specific ‘work at home’ hours and stick to them as closely as possible
It can be difficult to actually sit down and start work at the beginning of the day. By setting a start and finish time, it makes it easier to actually commence work, and might help by giving you something to aim for, and look forward to. It also sets a boundary for yourself and colleagues, and keeps you accountable for the day.
Don’t forget to take breaks every hour or two, even if you don’t feel like you need them. It is easy to get caught up in what you are doing, but by taking a break it can actually help you feel refreshed and might provide a new idea or two when your back at your desk! During one of these breaks, it might be worthwhile trying a mindfulness activity, as these have been shown to help concentration during the work day.
3) Make a list of tasks that need to be done each day, and focus on completing as many of them as possible
4) Find a quiet dedicated place to work, away from distractions like the television or your family members
Working at home, it is important to have a distraction-free dedicated work space. Although this may be difficult to achieve, it is important to setup up an area that is ‘your workspace’, free of clutter and in a quiet area.
If you are struggling to find a quiet place to work in the house, it might be worth investing in a set of noise cancelling headphones.
5) Put your phone on silent and only check it during designated break times.
This will help you avoid distraction, and keep you on task. It also helps to pop your phone into a draw or the cupboard behind you – out of sight, out of mind!
6) Meal preparation when working at home
Eating healthy is an important aspect of maintaining concentration. By preparing your snacks and meals in advance, you wont be tempted to snack on junk food.
Preparing food in advance when working at home means you also have more free time in your work day to do what you need to do. If you are required to cook everyday, or organise your lunch it will use up much need brain capacity, and of course, time.
7) Stop to stretch / exercise throughout the day
Stretching throughout the work day can help to improve productivity and general wellbeing. It also helps to combat any injuries which may occur from sitting for too long!
We’ve put together a list of stretches and exercises to keep you energised throughout the work day – find it here.
8) Reward yourself
Having a reward to get through the day working at home can be helpful. These are pretty simple ways to reward yourself, but can keep you motivated and upbeat throughout the day:
- Walk the dog
- Catch-up with friends
- Book a massage, pedicure or another self-care activity
- Gym workout
- Yummy dinner
- Have a bath
- See a movie
- Play a video game
- Do a yoga class
- Start a hobby
- Buy flowers/ plant for yourself
- Watch a TV show
9) Get enough sleep
We all know the benefits of sleep at this stage, but do we really get enough of it? Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep, however some can function off a bit more, or a bit less.
Sleep lets us rest and rejuvenate. By getting adequate sleep it helps us to concentrate, stops us getting sick and reduces stress.
10) Organise and declutter your workspace
It is important to keep your desk and office space clean and tidy to maintain healthy work habits.
Studies have shown that a cluttered home environment can lead to avoidance strategies such as watching television or snacking on junk food. Additionally, individuals who felt they were overwhelmed with the number of things in their home seemed more inclined to procrastinate.
By having a tidy and organised desk, it means you can utilise the space more intentionally and get your work done with less stress.
Read our tips to help improve your office setup to increase productivity.
Working at home can be a great way to improve your work/life balance. However, it is important to establish some structure and routines to help you stay motivated and productive.
Try implementing some of these working at home tips into your daily routine and see how they work for you!