5 Tips for Staying Productive When Working From Home

 

Working from home has its advantages, but there are also some things that can keep you from being productive at home. Here are some tips for making the most of your home office.

 

Set up a dedicated workspace

A dedicated work area will help you stay focused and avoid distractions. If you need more room, consider setting up an additional desk in another part of your house. Make sure that any furniture you use is comfortable and functional. You might even consider getting a standing desk so you can stand while you work. Standing is actually more healthy than sitting at your desk all day long, because the body doesn't just weigh down like a potato sack, but rather it always stays in a good position and also helps with blood flow. Remember, no electronic devices other than your PC, because anything else can easily distract you and keep you from finishing your work. So put your phone on mute or only use it if absolutely necessary. Also, make sure you put your desk in a preferably quiet room, so not in your kitchen or somewhere busy. Some people do prefer listening to music while working, but if it distracts you too much, you shouldn't really do it since you want to stay focused on your work.

 

Create a schedule

It’s easy to walk off your desk and do other tasks when there's still work to do. To prevent this from happening, and to keep yourself focused, set aside a certain amount of time that you want to work each day. This should be at least 30 minutes, but the ideal working time is around 60 - 120 minutes. Schedule your work time into your calendar and try to stick to these schedules as well as possible so you can finish your work every day. You can also create schedules on your smartphone by using different apps like Google Calendars for example. Just choose the method that fits best for you.

 

Take breaks

If you find yourself getting distracted too often while working on your desk, take some short breaks every hour or so. You might even consider taking a walk outside or going for a quick run. These activities will help clear your mind and give you a chance to fill up your energy again. Keep in mind that you don't want to take too long breaks. 10 minutes is the ideal time to just get off your desk and take stop working. Anything above 10 minutes would have a negative effect on your working times because you have more breaks than actually working and being productive. Breaks are even more important if you have to sit in front of a screen every day for hours. You can then give your eyes a little rest so that there's no damage done to them. Also, while taking a break from using the computer, try to simply look out of your window into the distance. This will affect your eyesight positively.

 

Keep everything clean and organized

It’s easy to become disorganized when working from home. Make sure you keep your workspace clean and free of any trash like empty cans, bottles, wrappers, etc. We already mentioned calendars above so make sure to also keep one nearby so you can keep track of all your important appointments and deadlines. Also, make sure you have a separate area where you can store all of your many files and paperwork. If you work with a lot of apps and technology, this won't be necessary because all of your important files are saved onto your electronic devices. 

 

Find different ways to stay motivated

This step is simple. Just try to find something that'll keep you motivated in life. All the sitting around at home and working over long periods of time can have negative effects on your psyche and body, so try to find a new hobby, keep an existing hobby active or join clubs on topics that you're interested in like books or cooking. There are many different things you can do to keep your life active. Also, try to stay happy and get rid of any negative thoughts on your mind. These only make you less motivated and you won't be able to finish as much work anymore.

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