As the coronavirus situation continues, regional leaders are urging their citizens to stay at home. In response, most companies are also mandating or recommending their employees to work from home. But working from home has both downsides and upsides. Sure, you get to stay home, but it can be harder to focus on actually working. Whether it’s your sleep or that one Netflix show that looks more appealing than your everyday worklist, staying productive at home can be challenging. So how can you stay focused on the job and mentally healthy while working remotely? Here are five simple home office productivity tips to help you stay productive at home.
Delineate your home office
Designating a separate space for your home office can help you with distractions and focus issues. Try to find a comfortable space and dedicate that only for work. That way you can associate that with your job and leave when you are done. That means no work from the bedroom and entertainment zones and definitely not from the bed itself.
Always avoid the urge to work from your bedroom unless it is the only place with some privacy. If you must work from your bedroom, do whatever you need to create a sense of “going to work” that will help. That can mean changing your clothes, getting fresh and making coffee or whatever you need.
Set boundaries
It can be pretty challenging to work from home when you are living with your family or roommates. It is not usual for them to see you working, so if they see you with a computer they may not register that you are working from home. As a result, the outcome may catch you off guard. This is especially true if you have never worked from home before and they may surmise that you are just scrolling through social media or playing games.
This is exactly why you should set your boundaries while working from home. Do whatever you need to do to make everyone realize that you are working. Tell them not to disturb you for a certain period of time unless it is absolutely necessary. Hang a sign on your door if you have to.
Take breaks
One of the most effective home office productivity tips is to take a break every now and then. And NO, scrolling through social media or watching the last installment of the Netflix show that you have been watching for weeks don’t count as breaks. Instead, take a stroll in the house or spend some time with your loved ones or your pets if you have any.
Take a 15 minute break every 75 to 90 minutes. Surprisingly, you will find yourself more productive if you routinely maintain distance from your computer throughout the day.
Avoid total isolation
While keeping yourself totally isolated during work hours may seem like a great home office productivity idea, there are downsides. Even if you consider yourself an introvert, social isolation and lack of communication with your fellow coworkers can lead you to a multitude of problems and can surprisingly deplete your energy and productivity.
Maintaining social communication is a challenge when working from home. There is nothing more refreshing than having coworkers around you enjoy working with and catching up with throughout the day. Make sure to maintain a proper connection with your colleagues throughout the day.
Plan your day
Always plan your day beforehand. Planning can help you organize your day in a structured way. Our time at the office is different from the time we spend at home. In many ways, our time and the structure of the day is influenced by the people around us. So when working from home, you will experience that lack of structure in your day.
For some people, tackling these kinds of situations are challenging and they have a hard time dealing with solitude. And one of the things that we know for sure is that time spent alone is better when structured. Plan your day ahead and handle your day better.
Working from home has its perks: you can work in trousers or shorts if you want; there’s no hassle getting to the office and sometimes you can be more focused and efficient. But you’ll make the most of it if you can approach the day committedly. Follow these effective home office productivity tips to become more efficient.
Do you find this article helpful? What are your tips to stay productive while working from home? Don’t forget to let us know in the comments section below.
