Do you tend to get distracted or procrastinate when working from home?
Remote work has become the norm for many, and for some, it may be a new experience whether in your career or building a business.
While working from home has its benefits, like avoiding commutes, not having to leave the house, and having a flexible schedule, it can also be challenging to maintain productivity and focus because you don’t have the structure that a job provides. So you have to create it yourself.
In this video, I’m going to share some tips on how to work efficiently from home:
Set up a designated workspace
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is maintaining a separation between work and personal life. It’s essential to create a designated workspace to help you get into the right mindset for work. Ideally, this should be a separate room or corner in your home where you can work without distractions.
Your workspace should be comfortable, inspiring, well-lit, and clutter-free. Make sure you have all the necessary equipment, such as a comfortable chair, desk, and computer, to help you work comfortably and efficiently.
Since we don’t have kids, I’ve turned one of our bedrooms into a home office with my gaming chair, a beast of a computer, has lots of natural light and where my pet rabbit free roams, so I’m excited to sit down and work in here.
Establish a routine
Another important factor in working efficiently from home is establishing a routine. When you work from home, it’s easy to fall into the trap of working all day or not working at all. Even forget about eating. A routine with lots of flexibility can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and avoid burnout.
Wake up at the same time, take regular breaks, and finish your office hours at a set time. A routine can also help you get into the right mindset for work and make it easier to transition between work and personal life.
If I have a meeting in the morning, then I tend to go with a more strict routine. If I don’t have any meetings, then I’ll have a more go with the flow (flexible) day. As long as I work on the top 3 things for that day.
Communicate
Working from home can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Make sure you communicate regularly with your colleagues, whether it’s through email, messaging apps, or video calls. Regular communication can help you stay connected with friends, build business relationships, or with your team and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
It’s also essential to establish boundaries with your colleagues. Let them know when you are available for calls or meetings and when you are not. This can help you avoid interruptions and distractions during your workday.
Minimize distractions
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is distractions. Whether it’s your family members, pets, or household chores, it’s easy to get distracted and lose focus. To work efficiently from home, it’s important to minimize distractions as much as possible.
Try to set boundaries with your family members and let them know when you are working. You can also use noise-canceling headphones or play background music to drown out any noise. If you find yourself getting distracted by social media or other websites, try using productivity tools such as website blockers to limit your access during focused work time.
Take breaks
Taking regular breaks is essential to maintaining productivity and focus. When you work from home, it’s easy to get caught up in work and forget to take breaks. However, taking breaks can help you recharge and come back to work with a fresh perspective.
Take a 5-10 minute break every hour or so. Use this time to stretch, walk around, play with your pet, go outside, or do something else you enjoy. Taking regular breaks can help you avoid burnout, minimize stiffness from sitting, and maintain your productivity throughout the day.
Prioritize tasks
Working from home can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of tasks to complete. To work efficiently, it’s important to prioritize your tasks and focus on the most important ones first.
At the beginning of each day, prioritize the top 3 tasks based on their importance and urgency. This can help you stay focused and avoid getting overwhelmed. If you find yourself struggling to prioritize tasks, try using a productivity tool like the Eisenhower Matrix. (insert photo) to help you determine how important or urgent a task is.
Stay organized
Staying organized is essential when working from home because it can be easy to let clutter accumulate and lose track of important documents or tasks. Here are some tips to help you stay organized:
- Keep a calendar: Use a digital calendar like Google calendar, or a paper planner, to keep track of deadlines, meetings, and other important events. This gets the information out of your head so you don’t have to worry about remembering things and can help you stay on top of your schedule and avoid missing important deadlines.
- Use digital tools: There are many digital tools available to help you stay organized, such as project management software, note-taking apps, etc. Find the tools that work best for you and use those
- Create a filing system: If you have a lot of documents or papers, create a filing system to keep everything organized. Categorize things in a way that makes sense to you. Use folders, labels, and color-coding to help you quickly find what you need when you need it.
Take care of your mental health
Working from home can be isolating, so it’s important to take care of your mental health. Try to take breaks to do something you enjoy, connect with friends and family, or seek support from a mental health professional if needed.
You can also join our Monday Morning free virtual co-working sessions for comradery and accountability. I’ll put the link below to RSVP.
Set boundaries
When working from home, it can be challenging to set boundaries between work and personal life. Here are some tips to help you set boundaries:
- Establish a work schedule: Set specific hours for work and stick to them. This can help you avoid working all the time or being constantly available for work.
- Turn off work notifications: When you’re not working, turn off notifications from work-related apps or emails. This can help you disconnect from work and focus on your personal life.
- Communicate with your family or roommates: Let your family or roommates know when you are working and when you need to be uninterrupted. This can help you avoid distractions and interruptions during your workday.
Celebrate your successes
Working from home can be challenging to feel motivated or recognized for your work. Here are some tips to help you celebrate your successes:
- Set goals and track your progress: Set specific goals for yourself and track your progress. Celebrate when you achieve your goals, no matter how small they may seem.
- Share your successes with a business bestie: When you achieve something significant, share it with someone you trust and also understands what you’re going through as a child-free business owner. This can help you feel recognized and appreciated for your work.
- Celebrate: When you achieve a significant milestone or complete a challenging task, take some time to celebrate. Don’t immediately move onto the next thing. Take a moment to really let this achievement, no matter how small, sink in and bask in the moment. This can help you stay motivated and energized for future projects.
You can treat yourself to a nice meal, take a bubble bath, buy something you’ve been wanting to get, etc. whatever you deem a reward.