If there is a trend that emerged in the last few years is remote work. Although it is wonderful on paper, it poses a few challenges that we must face and be attentive, to in order not to fall into the work trap.
Working from home is great as it allows you to work in a comfortable environment of your own preference while having the flexibility and freedom that comes with working remotely. It can be a great way to make money and avoid the daily commute. However, it can also be difficult to stay productive when you are working in your own space. Here are 10 tips for working from home successfully:
1. Set up a dedicated workspace
Working from home can be more difficult if you do not have a dedicated workspace. Try to set up a specific area in your home where you can work without distractions. This will help you stay focused and get more done.
2. Set regular hours
It can be easy to let work consume your life when you are working from home. However, it is important to set regular hours for yourself and stick to them. This will help you maintain a healthy work/life balance.
3. Take breaks
Working from home can be isolating, so make sure to take breaks throughout the day to socialize or simply step away from your desk. Taking breaks will help you avoid burnout and stay refreshed.
Pomodoro is a popular working method that incentivizes you to work for a period of time and then rest. This is a work cycle that can be repeated. A famous Pomodoro method is the 25-5 in which you work for 25 minutes and rest for 5 minutes. You can utilize the resting periods to meditate or perform some relaxing activity.
4. Get dressed for work
It can be tempting to just lounge around in your pajamas all day when you are working from home. However, getting dressed for work can actually help you feel more professional and productive. So don’t be afraid to get dressed up even if you’re just working from your living room.
5. Set deadlines
One of the benefits of working from home is that you can set your own deadlines. However, it is important to be realistic with these deadlines and not try to do too much at once. Setting deadlines will help you stay on track and get more done.
6. Make a to-do list
Making a to-do list can help you stay organized and productive when you are working from home. Break down your tasks into small, manageable items so you can easily check them off as you complete them.
7. Avoid distractions
There are many potential distractions when you are working from home, so it is important to avoid them as much as possible. Silence your phone, close your door, and put away any other potential distractions so you can focus on work.
8. Take advantage of technology
There are many helpful tools and technologies available to help you work from home more effectively. Utilize things like online task managers, video conferencing, and cloud storage to make working from home easier.
Be especially attentive of conflicting technology. Although technology can help you be more productive, as we mentioned earlier, it can be a distraction. In order for this to work, you can use apps such as Freedom that block distracting apps and let you focus.
9. Get enough sleep
It is important to get enough sleep even when you are working from home. Make sure you are getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night so you can be alert and productive during the day. You should also be consistent with your sleeping patterns. Sleeping will help you get sick less often, maintain a healthy weight and increase your overall happiness and productivity.
If you can’t sleep that many hours in the night you can compensate with a power nap. A twenty-minute shut-eye can be tremendously effective in reducing fatigue and increasing productivity. Geniuses like Einstein, Tesla, and Da Vinci were great advocators of the power nap solution.
10. Find a routine that works for you
Everyone is different, so find a work-from-home routine that works best for you. Experiment with different schedules and strategies until you find something that helps you be productive and successful. When you do find one stick to it.
11. Keep yourself motivated
When you work from home, it can be easy to lose motivation. To keep yourself motivated, set small achievable goals for yourself throughout the day and reward yourself for completing them. This will help motivate you to work harder and stay productive.
If you are not feeling motivated, you can always contact your team and let them know. Feedback is one of the most important things in business.
12. Stay connected
Working from home can be isolating, so make sure you stay connected with your colleagues. Schedule virtual meetings or team-building activities once a week to ensure everyone is on the same page and have regular check-ins with individual members of your team to ensure they are feeling supported and connected.
13. Don’t forget to unplug
When work hours are done, make sure you take the time to unplug — turn off work emails and notifications, and focus on something else. This will help you stay productive during work hours and avoid feeling like work is all-consuming.
A great way to unplug is to go for a walk every time you are finished with work. Nature is the best analog weapon in this digitized world.
14. Take care of yourself
Working from home can be stressful and it’s easy to forget to take care of your physical and mental health. Make sure you are taking the time to exercise regularly, eat healthy meals, and practice self-care activities like yoga or meditation.
One of the essentials here is to make these activities part of your daily routine. Otherwise, you will end up giving up after a few sessions. Block time each day to take care of yourself. Your body will thank you.
15. Get creative with supplies
Working from home may require some unique supplies that you don’t have lying around the house. Find ways to get creative with what you already have or look for secondhand items online. This will help save money while still providing the necessary supplies for work.
16. Ask for help when needed
Working from home doesn’t mean you have to work alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it — whether that is from your team, your family, or professional help. Psychotherapy is one of the best instruments to deal with conflicting thoughts and emotions. If you feel overwhelmed, give it a try. “Know thyself” Socrates dixit.
Final Thoughts
Working from home poses new challenges for everyday life. We can become more isolated, lose our routines, and end up in a work trap. Although it is meant to free us, working from home can be a curse, and we need to be active about it. Hence, in this article we have proposed 16 tips to help you manage your work-life balance better.
Follow these tips to work from home successfully and reap the rewards of remote work! With the right mindset and strategies, working from home can be both rewarding and enjoyable. Good luck!
Do you have any tips for working from home? Share them in the comments!
Bio
Rui Bouça is an Economist and SEO Specialist. He has a BSc and Masters in Economics and worked in the largest Portuguese bank. Part-time, he is enrolled in medical school – to each their own. He just launched his newest website The Timeless Designer
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