One of the perks of working from home is that you can listen to music without disturbing your coworkers. I like to kick out the jams and maybe even dance a little as I work. I'm so much more productive when I'm in a good mood and enjoying some good music. A groovy bassline can do more for my productivity than an espresso.
When you work from home it’s easy to let time slip away from you. Whether it’s your lunch hour or just a 5-minute break after a long session of sitting, home life can be so laden with distraction that before you know it, you’ve gone well over your allotted time. If you find yourself easily distracted like this you may want to lean on the tried-and-true method of setting reminders. As simple as that seems, once we fall into habit, it becomes easy to forget to set ourselves little reminders for those particularly busy days. It can be was easy as setting an alarm on your phone or turning on a digital timer. With just this small step you’ll find it much easier to be accountable for your time while working from your home office.
Hi there! One of the things that helped me stay productive while working from home is to have a space that is only dedicated to working. This doesn't have to be a separate space or a room, it can simply be a desk where you sit down to work. The secret is to only use it for work, and never eat there, watch Netflix, or do any sort of leisure activity. Over time, you're training your mind to associate this desk with work and productivity, so when you sit down, your mind automatically knows it's time to get it done. Hope you find this answer useful!
My days working at home go 10,000% better if I apply the same morning routine. It's not as simple as when I wake up and make coffee. I take a shower, get dressed, make coffee, clean the kitchen and then clean my workspace. I start off with a few "quick win" tasks and that provides the momentum to carry me through the day. By 10AM I already know what I am eating for lunch: either something I prepared the night before or going out with a colleague.
Don’t work when you’re feeling exhausted. As obvious as that sounds, when you’re working from your home, the ability to work at any time can make it tempting to schedule your tasks when you’re at your worst. Putting work off until the very end of the day or after you’ve exhausted your mind and body with other tasks will lower your productivity while you’re on the job. Instead, designate your time effectively, keeping home tasks and work tasks separated by periods of rest. Productivity relies on more than just being physically present. If you aren’t rested and ready for the job, you won’t get any quality work done. Avoid making work your last priority during your days working from home.
I'm a Business & Career Transition Coach. I've been working from home for the last 10 years. One thing that keeps me productive while working from home is virtual coworking. Virtual coworking creates a container to hold me accountable and keeps me away from shiny objects a.k.a social media. I feel supported working alongside others. It puts me in a flow state and raises my productivity. Virtual coworking also gives me a chance to meet people across age groups, cultures and professions. I find this diversity incredibly enriching. Virtual coworking platforms are introvert-friendly and make little space for small talk. As an introvert, this is a delight for me. With virtual coworking, I hardly miss 'going to the office'.
Yoga pants and bunny slippers sound like an amazing work wardrobe. But comfy clothes can make you too comfortable when you should be working. I've found that dressing normally ( basically anything but sleepwear) keeps my brain motivated and focused on work. It subtly helps me separate my work life and home life. That differentiation is hard to come by when your home is also your office, so anything you can do to make a distinction between the two should help your productivity.
Marketing & Outreach Manager at ePassportPhoto
Answered 3 years ago
You can start every working day with a 15-minute window in which you plan your day. Take a look at your email inbox, your project management tool, your ongoing and potential future assignments, and create a plan. Really consider what it is that you have to do, and how much time each task will take. A good plan will ensure you know exactly what you have to do and keep distractions to the minimum.
The Pomodoro technique is a time-management strategy that involves breaking the working day into 25-minute stretches, followed by an intentional 5-minute break. Research shows that sustained attention tends to waver after around 20 minutes of any given activity, causing productivity to eventually wane. By giving yourself a break after 25 minutes, you keep yourself in that productive zone, boosting performance. The Pomodoro technique is ideal for remote workers, who must constantly resist the urge to procrastinate or succumb to distractions. The five-minute break allows you to quickly recharge and reset, priming you for another 25 minute stretch of uninterrupted work. To help keep you accountable, many Pomodoro applications or even physical timers exist, helping to automate the process and keep you on track. I strongly recommend the Pomodoro technique to any remote worker who struggles to remain productive. Just try it for yourself, and you will quickly become an advocate.