Working from Home – 5 Tips for Success

If you have the opportunity to be working from home then you’re probably fully aware of all the benefits that come along with it. From rolling out of bed to working in your pajamas all day, working from home saves you time commuting and allows you to work from your living room, bedroom, or even your neighbourhood coffee shop. That said, working from home also comes with its fair share of challenges. It can be easy to get into a slump and become less productive and easily distracted. Below are a few tips to be the most productive while working from home.

Working from Home Tips

While I have my own business and work from home every day, I thought I would share some tips with those of you that are trying trying to work from home now.

1. Set office hours

Structure can be incredibly effective in forcing you to stay on task. Creating regular work hours for yourself will force you to keep track of how long you’re working from home every day. This will allow you to keep yourself accountable, while also forcing you to consider your work-life balance – once your workday is done, the work stops. Setting work hours will also keep you more focused by knowing when the end of a workday is near.

2. Create a separate workspace

While you may not be able to dedicate an entire room for an office space for working from home, it’s important for people working from home to have a designated area that is strictly for working. Having a separate workspace will allow you to avoid mixing your personal and professional life, help you stay organized, and make you more efficient and productive. While we all want to believe that we can do our best work from bed or the couch, deep down we know that’s not true. Besides, working in bed makes it easier to accidentally fall asleep mid-email! Instead, be purposeful about your office space and only use said space when you’re in “work mode”.

3. Jazz up your office space

Large companies like Google and Facebook know the impact an office space can have on their employees, so why should you settle for a boring workspace? Have fun and splurge on fun decorations, cute office supplies, and a comfortable chair (can’t stress enough how important this one is!) for working from home. Add some greenery with plants – real or faux! The key is to make this space comfortable, inviting, and somewhere that you’re exited to be every single day.

Your dog won’t mind you working from home and getting outside for walks is a great way to clear your head.

4. Think like you’re going into the office

One of the keys to finding motivation to get out of bed and start working at home is to treat each day like you’re going into a physical office. This means set your alarm, have a shower, change your clothes, and maybe even do your hair if you’re so inclined. Getting into this habit will help you feel more prepared for the day and will make it easier to maintain boundaries between your professional and personal life. Plus, you’ve already accomplished something – score!

5. Stay on task

Working from home means you’re surrounded by all of your favourite things everyday. Netflix? Cats? Snacks? Sounds great, but these things can make getting work done even more challenging. To avoid getting easily distracted, add more structure to your day by giving yourself time intervals where you work nonstop without distractions. For example, decide that for the next 30 minutes you’ll work nonstop and after that time is up, reward yourself for your diligent hard work with a short break to decompress.

You might also like Powering my Workspace with Best Buy – Gear & Tips, Hidden Gems on Netflix, or What Living in a Tiny Apartment has Taught Me.

Thanks for stopping by!!!