Up Your Productivity While Working from Home

Amber RandhawaHomeowner and Homebuyer Tips, Interior Decorating

Whether you have only recently begun working from home, or you’ve been doing it for years, you have probably realized that it has it’s advantages, and at times it’s complications. For some of us, working from home can create barriers to productivity. If you are used to peace and quiet while working, you may be battling with the din of children and neighbors. Or perhaps you enjoy the chatter of coworkers in the background and now are stuck with an almost too quiet home office. Whatever your preference, you likely have no choice but to learn to work efficiently from home. We’re here to offer you a few tips on how to increase your productivity now that your work environment has changed.


Designate A Workspace

Working from home provides you with the flexibility of working from the most comfortable areas of your home, but not every cozy nook is the ideal workspace. If you are stationed on the living room couch, you may find yourself distracted by the TV and other family members. Setting up to work at the breakfast table may seem convenient, but not if you find yourself constantly jumping up for a snack. A separate room set up as a home office is ideal, but even a corner in a guestroom or formal living room will suffice. The goal is to separate yourself from the rest of the hustle and bustle of your home’s daily life. If possible, avoid finding this corner in your bedroom, as being in the same room as your impending work can have an adverse effect on your sleep quality.

Set a Schedule

Just because you can work at any time of the day or night doesn’t mean that you should. Do your best to make your at-home work schedule mirror your previous, in-office work schedule. If you normally wake up at 6am to be at work by 8am, continue setting your alarm for that early time. You’ll be able to either get a jump on your work by starting early before others in your home awaken and begin distracting you, or you can give yourself some much-needed alone time for morning coffee, a workout or meditation. The further you stray from a set schedule, the harder you will find it to resume one when you return to office life. Be sure to allow yourself regular breaks throughout the day, whether for a healthy snack, a brain break or a 5-10 minute walk around the neighborhood for some fresh air. It might also be helpful to set an alarm for the end of your workday as well. When you work from home it’s easy to get into the habit of working later in the afternoon than you otherwise would.

Dress the Part

You’re at home and won’t be seeing anyone, so you can spend the day working in your pajamas, right? While that is technically true (unless you have video meetings), and could be quite tempting, when you’re too relaxed, you’re usually not that productive. You don’t have to get as dressed up as you would to go into the office, but it’s still beneficial to get up, get showered, and dress in a manner in which you would feel comfortable leaving the house, or appearing on an unexpected video chat.

Stay Connected

We’re all in the same boat right now, staying home as much as possible. But while your colleagues and clients will expect you to be home, they will also still need to be able to reach you easily. Make sure you are online on all communication platforms your company uses throughout your workday. And likewise, remember to set an Away or Out of Office message for the times when you will be unavailable. No one expects you to be available for them 24/7, but they will appreciate knowing when you can be be expected to return their email or message.