Home Working - Top Tips for Productivity, Motivation and Sanity

Home Working - Top Tips for Productivity, Motivation and Sanity

I work from home…a lot, and let me tell you it has been a challenge.

I’m a social beast (most of us coaches are) so to spend so much time working alone and staying productive (not to mention sane) can be a challenge.

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In this world of technology advances, Concerns about unnecessary travel and spreading illnesses, home working is going to become more popular going forward.

I have used my experience and the advice of others to come up with some top tips for working from home. By following these top tips hopefully, you can stay motivated, stay sane and make a success of it.

1. Get started early.

Believe it or not, one way to work from home productively is to dive into your to-do list as soon as you wake up.  Simply getting a project started first thing in the morning can be the key to making progress on it gradually throughout the day.  Otherwise, you'll prolong breakfast and let the morning sluggishness wear away your motivation.

2. Pretend you are going to work as normal.

When working from home, do all the things you'd do to prepare for a normal workday: Set your alarm, make a brew, and get dressed in work clothes.  Internet browsers even allow you to set up multiple accounts with different toolbars on the top - for example, a toolbar for home and a separate toolbar for work.

3. Structure your day like you normally would.

Segment what you'll do and when over the course of the day to stay on schedule.  If you have an online calendar, create personal events and reminders that tell you when to start a new task.

4. Choose a dedicated workspace.

Rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the couch - spaces that are associated with leisure time - dedicate a specific room or surface in your home to work.

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5. Don't stay at home.

Take “home working” a step further and get out of the house.  Coffee shops, libraries and similar Wi-Fi-enabled spaces can help you simulate the energy of an office so you can stay productive even when you don't sit in an official workplace. Assuming these places and are open and available to us.

6. Make it harder for yourself to access social media.

To counteract your social networks' ease of use during work hours, remove them from your browser shortcuts.  You might even consider working primarily in a private or if you're using Chrome, an "Incognito" browser window.  It's a guarantee that you won't be tempted into taking too many social breaks during the day.

7. Commit to doing more.

Projects always take longer than you initially think they will. So, just as you're encouraged to overestimate how much time you'll spend doing one thing, you should also overestimate how many things you'll do during the day. Even if you come up short of your goal, you'll still come out of that day with a solid list of tasks filed, oh and always celebrate your victories.

8. Work when you're at your most productive.

Nobody sprints through their work from morning to evening - your levels of motivation will naturally rise and fall throughout the day.  Therefore, when you're working from home it's all the more important to know when those ebbs and flows will take place and plan your schedule around them.

9. Plan out what you'll be working on ahead of time.

It's important to let your agenda change if you need it to, but it's equally as important to commit to an agenda that outlines every assignment before you begin. Try solidifying your schedule the day before, making it feel more official when you wake up the next day to get started on it.

10. Use technology to stay connected.

Working from home might help you focus on your work in the short term, but it can also make you feel cut off the larger operation happening in the office.  Instant messaging and videoconferencing tools can make it easy to check in with your teams or teammates and remind you how your work is contributing to the big picture.

11. Communicate expectations with anyone who will be home with you.

Make sure any roommates, siblings, parents, spouses, and children (if you can) respect your space during work hours.  Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you're “home”, if you know what I mean.

12. Take clear breaks.

It can be so easy to get distracted when working from home that you avoid breaks altogether.  Don't let the guilt of working in the building you sleep-in prevent you from taking five minutes to relax. However, rather than just opening YouTube and watching some comfort clips, use your breaks to get away from your desk.  Go for a walk outside or spend time with others who might also be in the house (remember those children).

13. Interact with other humans.

You're working from home, not the moon.  Interaction with other people during the day is allowed, even if they're not your teammates.  It's a good idea to see another face during the day if most of your workday is solitary.

14. Prepare your meals the night before.

When you're in your own home, it can be tempting to spend time preparing a nice breakfast and lunch for yourself, chopping and cooking included.  Don't use precious minutes making your food the day of work and cook it the night before.

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15. Pick a definitive finishing time each day.

In place of teammates, who are packing up and leaving reminds you to do the same, set an alarm at the end of the day to indicate your normal workday is coming to an end.  You don't have to stop immediately, but knowing the workday is technically over can help you start the process of saving your work wrapping up for the evening.

16. Have something playing in the background.

If you’re alone in the house it’s good to have some white noise in the background. Of all the tips, tricks, and secrets I've uncovered for being more productive at home, one stands out above the rest for me: putting on a documentary channel.  I’m Serious.  Just keeping them running in the background at a low volume, and I swear, l get more stuff done. 

Priya Mishra

Ceo of a Management Consulting firm | Public Speaker| Our Flagship event Global B2B Conference | Brand Architect | Solution Provider | Business Process Enthusiast |Join Corporality Club

2y

Craig, thanks for sharing!

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Jim Cheetham Potts

Writing winning bids, proposals & tenders / Content creation / Workshops and training to empower your team/ Growth and business improvement strategies

4y

Sound advice, Craig.

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