Working from home is a great gig if you are focused and looking for extra flexibility in your working life. Many big corporations, particularly those in the tech sector, are happy to allow employees to work from home some or all of the time. It is good for the environment and cuts costs in the workplace. However, it is easy to be distracted when you work from home, which is bad for productivity. Here are some tips to help you stay productive.
Create a Workspace
It is impossible to be productive if you don’t have a set place to work. Some people are happy to sit at the kitchen table or in front of the TV and get on with work, but most of us need a quiet place where we spread out documents and get stuck in.
The best solution is to designate a space in your home for an office. Ideally, nominate a separate room where you can close the door on family and pets, but if this is not possible, create a workspace in a corner of a room, under the stairs, or in your bedroom.
Invest in a good quality desk, a filing cabinet, and ergonomic chair. Task lighting is also important, especially if you routinely work late into the night. Find office furniture, lighting, and many other types of decor to furnish your workspace online at Furniture.com.
Have a Routine
You need a routine to be productive. Without set hours, it will be hard to breeze through time sensitive tasks or meet deadlines. Aim to start work at the same time each day and take a set break for lunch. Once your brain is accustomed to fixed working hours, you should have fewer problems waking up in the morning.
There will be times when you need to work late to complete a project but try to avoid overstepping your work hours too often. Maintaining a good work-life balance is critical. When work encroaches on our personal life it tends to affect productivity – and not in a good way, either.
Take regular breaks and make sure you have at least one work-free day every week. Use your free time to do fun things, such as take some exercise or spend quality time with friends and family. You could also sign up for an online masters in health administration. An MHA degree online will exercise your little gray cells and help to make you more productive at work.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions are bad for productivity. Where possible, eliminate as many as possible. This includes unplugging the telephone (not your work phone, for obvious reasons), not signing into social media, and asking friends and family not to call on you during working hours.
The fewer distractions you have, the easier it will be to focus on work and get things done.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
When we are tired, we find it hard to concentrate and no matter how much work there is piling up in your in-box, you are not going to accomplish much.
Instead, log off and take a power nap or call it quits for the day. A good night’s sleep is the cure for most things in life.
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