
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, millions of people have had to work from home to stay safe. While being at home all day can be comforting, it can also be challenging in terms of productivity. Here are seven simple but hugely effective work from home tips to help maximize your productivity.
Dress for Success
Working from home in your pajamas sounds great, but it isn’t the best idea. Part of being a successful worker is maintaining good habits and routines. Changing out of your sleepwear into something casual that’s appropriate for the office is a good habit to have. It’s a good first step in getting into the right frame of mind to get work done. Plus, it’ll help you look good on any surprise Zoom calls.
Maintain Regular Hours
Some remote workers become lax with their work hours since they’re at home. They feel like they can start and finish whenever they want, as long as the work gets done. That’s a poor approach to work. It’s important to separate your work time from your personal time. Maintaining flexible work hours out of convenience will cut into your precious “me” time. Of course you should be available under extraordinary circumstances, but try to stick with a regular schedule as much as possible. It will help you maintain a better work/life balance.
If you live with family or roommates, it’s important that they respect your work hours. Make sure that they know that you’re only to be disturbed for emergencies during work hours. Doing so will help ensure that you have proper separation between your work time and personal life.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
Try to make a space that’s used for work and only work. This is, of course, much easier for people that own houses and work on laptops, but it’s possible for apartment dwellers too. Creating a dedicated workspace helps you focus on work and avoid the distractions of home during work hours. It also makes it less tempting to spend a few more minutes on a project that can suddenly turn into hours. Similar to keeping dedicated work hours, having a dedicated workspace will help you have a healthy work/life balance.
Tying into the previous tip, you should make sure that any family or friends you work with respect your workspace. You should let them know that your work area is for work purposes only. Making sure that your workspace isn’t used for videogames or watching hours of cat videos on YouTube helps you make clear boundaries for work/life balance.
Try to Work as Far Away From the Kitchen as Possible
When making a dedicated workspace, it’s a good idea to make it a good distance away from the kitchen and pantry. Being near your favorite foods and snacks seems like a great idea on paper, but it can wreak havoc on your health. This is especially important since many people aren’t going out and exercising as much due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Use Decorations to Keep You Focused and Happy
One of our favorite work from home tips is also one of the most fun: decorate your workspace. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive or ornate. Simple things like a framed photo of loved ones, an action figure of your favorite superhero, or a motivational poster work well. The idea is to use decorations that will keep you in a positive mood. This is different for everyone and you can have lots of fun going online shopping for your office decorations.
Spend Money on Ergonomics and Comfort
It’s a good idea to spend a little more money on things that you use every day: your mattress, bed sheets, bath towels, etc. The same goes for your home office. Having the right desk, office chair, keyboard, and mouse are tremendously important if you’re going to spend eight hours a day or more working from home. Not only will quality products keep you more productive, they’ll also help you avoid repetitive stress injuries caused by poor ergonomics.
Take a Walk During Your Lunch Break
In the last year, more people have spent more time at home than ever before. This isn’t always good for your mental health. Your body needs sunlight and fresh air, while your mind needs the mental stimulation that comes with a change of scenery. Should the weather permit, take a stroll during your lunch break. Even a quick walk around the block will do. Remember, work from home tips aren’t just about making you a more efficient employee. They’re also about keeping your body and mind sound so that you can work effectively.
Do You Have Any Work From Home Tips?
These are just seven work from home tips that our team has found to be tremendously effective. There are many other things, both big and small, that can help make working from home more pleasant and productive. Do you have any tips that you’d like to share? If so, please send a message to On Target Media’s Facebook or Twitter pages. And be sure to keep an eye on our blog for more content in the near future.
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