Working from home: 7 ways to improve your productivity
Working from home: 7 ways to improve your productivity
The idea of having total freedom, being able to manage your schedule yourself and wearing pyjamas all day is very appealing.
While all of these benefits sound appealing, it can be difficult to be productive with all the distractions around the house.
It isn’t easy to stay focused when your little cat gets excited or when a pile of dishes is waiting for you in the kitchen.
That’s why I wrote this article. We are going to present simple techniques that will allow you to increase your productivity when working from home.
The importance of an optimized workspace
So you started working from home. Whether it’s your job that gives you this freedom or one of your new professional projects that requires your dedication, working from home is a great experience.
But that doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk, as many people might think.
Working from home requires a lot of discipline. With so many distractions, chores and errands to do, it can be hard to stay focused and productive.
Each person working from home will have a different routine; it is, therefore, important to keep in mind that everyone should use the techniques that suit them best.
With these tips and tricks, you’ll learn more about working from home and how to stay productive while working comfortably.
In what kind of environment do you feel productive?
You might not be very orderly, or maybe you’re the type to have a desk constantly covered with books, diagrams, notes and external hard drives; there is nothing wrong with that.
For some, it could be a real nightmare. But for others, it might be the perfect environment to be more productive.
Everything is relative, as this quote from Albert Einstein points out, which could make you feel more comfortable working in a messy workspace.
What would an empty desk mean if a messy desk is a sign of a busy mind?
It would help if you determined the various factors that maximize your productivity. What kind of environment do you work best in?
I like everything to be ordered. For me, a messy desk reflects a cluttered and anxious mind. I know I’m not productive in this kind of work environment.
And you? Do you prefer your workspace to be a little messy? Is there organization behind all your clutter?
There is no right or wrong answer here. But, it would be a good idea to experiment with different workspaces from time to time to determine what kind of environment works best for you.
With that in mind, let’s look at the different ways to stay productive while working from home, no matter your occupation.
Separate your workspace from your personal space
I have found myself in this situation before. It is a vicious circle. Mixing workspace and personal space will make it difficult for you to stay productive.
Of course, if you have free time, working while watching Netflix will be tempting; but your productivity will be negatively affected. By mixing these two worlds, you will be unable to devote time to either. Worse still, by combining work and relaxation, you won’t be able to have enough perspective during times of stress.
A study published in “The Global and Mail” has identified the biggest distractions that need to be managed by entrepreneurs working from home.
Here are the five most common distractions:
- Interactions with children and family
- Distractions caused by an ill-equipped office
- homework
- television
- Distractions caused by an ill-appointed workspace
You’ve probably had to deal with some distractions while working from home.
But, here’s what you can do: set a boundary (whether physically or mentally) to separate your workspace from your personal relaxation space; you can, for example, allocate fixed time slots to working times or isolate yourself in an area free of distractions.
At first, it might be difficult to eliminate all distractions at home, but it is worth it. If you can, try turning an empty bedroom into an office to avoid working from your couch.
Tip: You can buy a room divider to create a workspace separate from your relaxation area.
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“Organize your clutter.”
Even if you’ve determined that you’re one of those who feels better in a somewhat messy space, try “organizing your clutter.”
If your desk is constantly covered with books, pencils, pens and papers, and your computer is full of screenshots and Word documents, your work environment will not be pleasant.
And what about those things you can’t find anymore? Do you know how much time you’re wasting sifting through your clutter to find a particular document when you might be working on your project?
Here are some tips to keep you organized:
- Reduce excessive paperwork. Gather all receipts, notes, and other papers, and put them in a box.
- Store your pens, pencils and other office accessories in a storage tool provided for this purpose.
- Clean up your computer. Eliminate all extra files and those that could distract you, and be sure to empty the trash.
- Throw out things that clutter your space; empty bottles, sachets, etc.
Tip: Turn this step into a fun game and use a paper shredder to remove documents you no longer need.
Dress professionally
We’ve already discussed in another article the importance of creating a morning routine to increase productivity — but how will you do it if you’re working from home?
It can be tempting to work in your pyjamas, drink coffee all day, and eat junk food whenever you feel like it, but this lifestyle is neither healthy for the body nor the spirit.
Wake up early and get dressed; dress the same way you would if you were working from a desk or meeting.
This will allow you to adopt a different mindset for your day.
A test carried out by the team of “A Life of Productivity” made it possible to highlight some important points about the link between the way of dressing and productivity:
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- The way you dress has a huge influence on your state of mind. People are used to surrounding themselves with objects that make them feel better; the same applies to clothing.
- The better you dress, the more motivated you are to “show off in public”. This can be useful if your productivity depends on your ability to network, as it would be at a networking event or a professional evening.
But, if you’re more productive in your pyjamas, don’t change that.
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Invest in ergonomic and well-designed office furniture
You’ll probably take breaks sometimes, but you might also find yourself sitting in your office chair for hours during intense work.
This is why it is important to invest in ergonomic office furniture; so that your health and productivity are not negatively affected.
Buy an ergonomic chair or even a desk intended for working while standing. Working in a standing position for a few hours will be good for your back and improve your productivity.
The members of the “Ergonomics Plus” team have made it possible to highlight certain important points regarding the link between ergonomics and productivity:
- Ergonomics improves productivity. The best ergonomic solutions will often increase productivity. Make sure to invest in furniture that will allow you to have all your documents and tools at hand, good posture, and less physical strain; this will result in increased efficiency.
- Ergonomics improve the quality of work. A lack of ergonomics is tiring and demotivating, negatively affecting the quality of the work provided. If an employee is bothered by physical strain caused by poor ergonomics, they may not deliver work at the expected rate. For example, an employee might be unable to fasten a screw hard enough, which could cause product quality issues.
Tip: Do some research online to find ergonomic solutions at great prices, allowing you to improve your productivity and efficiency.
Consider working from a coworking space.
There will undoubtedly be days when you don’t feel like working from home. It’s good to leave your home office once in a while.
Fortunately, you have the chance to work from wherever you want.
You could work from a library or a coffee shop or rent a small space in a shared work environment. This will allow you to take a step back and break the routine.
I prefer places where natural light is present in abundance. According to a Psychology Today study, exposure to natural light in a workspace leads to a dramatic increase in productivity.
Also, if you choose to work from a coworking space, you will meet someone who can help you and vice versa.
Prepare your meals for the week in advance.
Generally, working from home, you will need to take some time to cook your meals. However, if you live with someone who works from home, you could share this task.
To avoid spending too much time in the kitchen on weekdays, prepare meals in advance on Sunday afternoons. Cook in large quantities, and keep everything in containers to serve yourself during the week without wasting time cooking again every day.
Athletes are used to doing this, so why not entrepreneurs?
Tim Ferriss talks about what UFC champion Georges St-Pierre (known by the acronym GSP) has done in the past.
In 2009, GPS began following a personalized diet. His preparers prepared him three meals at once:
- A meal to eat after training (can be eaten cold).
- Dinner.
- Breakfast starts the next day.
Preparation time was only 2-4 hours, thus allowing the team to gain productivity.
You probably eat less than GPS, so you could have everything ready in less than 2-4 hours.
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Learn to take breaks to take a step back
Spending long hours working at night may seem normal when hearing successful entrepreneurs’ stories—but you don’t know that these successful entrepreneurs also take time to themselves.
They know how to stop. They know how to take a step back.
It is very important to take breaks if you feel you need to. There is nothing wrong with watching television for a few hours.
Members of the “Becoming Minimalist” team made some interesting points about the importance of “disconnecting” to take a step back.
- Disconnecting can neutralize certain negative emotions such as jealousy, irrational desires, and feelings of loneliness.
- Disconnecting helps combat the fear of missing opportunities.
- Disconnecting allows you to be more creative.
- Disconnecting will enable you to find balance and enjoy life.
So, allow yourself to take time to enjoy your favourite relaxation activities after the day’s work; go for a walk, jog or watch your favourite series on Netflix if you feel like it.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve covered these seven techniques for staying productive while working from home, you must implement them. This might take time, but you will gain productivity in the long run.
Let us know in the comments if these tips were helpful to you, and share with readers your suggestions if you have any!
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Working from home: 7 ways to improve your productivity
