How To Be Productive Working From Home - 7 Tips

Last updated by Katie M.

Working from home probably sounds like a great idea, but with all the distractions, is it really a good recipe for productivity and efficiency? At home, when I'm not tempted to snack or scroll on Instagram, there is always something else that monopolizes my attention. But, like millions of others, I have to adapt to and master this new way of working. Between disturbances and temptations, how can I be well-structured in my home office? Well, I'm about to share all of my success secrets with you!

How To Be Productive Working From Home - 7 Tips
Contents: 

The 7 golden rules to follow for a productive working day at home

With organization, anything is possible!

1. Get yourself ready as if you were going to the office.

Pajamas and efficiency aren’t really a good match. In the morning, you need to get dressed as if you were going to the office. Keeping your rituals, your routines, and a decent outfit means telling your brain and body that you're out of bed, giving them an unconscious motivational boost.

2. Give yourself frequent breaks.

Instead of looking around for other things to do every 30 seconds because you're not focused, instead take a break, a real one, in order to recharge your batteries; whether it means spending 30 minutes reading a good book with a coffee. When you get back in front of my computer, you'll be nothing but concentrated and efficient.

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3. Ignore the call of the household chores.

The risk when you're at home is thinking about all the things you have to do. Putting away the dishes, vacuuming, ironing… Although these tasks are usually not tempting, when you're teleworking, it's hard to ignore everything that's right under your nose. And yet we have to. There is a time for everything, which brings me to my next point.

4. Create a workspace of your own.

We're only human and therefore unable to work effectively slumped on the couch. In order to put yourself in a working atmosphere (and to get away from any source of distraction) set up an office corner, in which you feel comfortable for maximum productivity.

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5. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted.

It only takes us about a second to lose my concentration, which is why you need to set boundaries with your family beforehand. Isolating yourself from your partner and children may seem antisocial, but it definitely helps get things done.

6. Set your phone to airplane mode.

Since your phone has the knack of stealing our attention a couple of hundred times a day, you need to remove the temptation to scroll aimlessly. Whenever you see it flashing or hear it vibrating, and don’t pick it up immediately, you will no doubt feel like you're missing out on something important; but it needs to be left alone. So dear smartphone, you're going to be quiet for a little while.

7. Think in results, not hours.

Working with a watch in hand can cause stress. Especially when the clock is ticking, and you haven't progressed as much as if you were in the office. So as not to let panic overwhelm you, try to rethink the way you work. Instead of putting pressure on your usual 8 hours, focus on the goals set in your schedule. If you know that they will be reached at the end of the day, you'll be more relaxed and motivated.

>>> Read our article on; so what if I hate working? Plus, why I hate working from home <<<

5 Wellbeing related issues people experience when working from home

Many of us have been working from home for years now, and whilst this seemingly flexible and family friendly way of working has its advantages, it also has its fair share of downsides too, especially for our wellbeing. Many workers claim to have seen a difference in their wellbeing since creating their office space in their household. Here are the top 5 negative feelings workers experience:

  • 1) Feeling isolated and lonely - With Zoom meetings replacing in person ones, we’ve ironically never been more disconnected.
  • 2) Being unable to ‘switch off from work’ - The temptation to compensate for saving on commuting time is real for many of us.
  • 3) Having trouble staying motivated - With the future seeming so unstable, setting goals just isn’t feasible.
  • 4) Feeling uncertain about your progress - Reduced communication means that feedback is rarer in many cases.
  • 5) Insomnia and sleep problems - People are no longer able to ‘leave their brains in the office’ anymore…

A working mom's opinion — What is the ideal schedule?

Working from home can seem even more complicated for parents. After experimenting with different ways of doing things, I myself have realized that the solution is to organize myself as a whole. For example:

7:30-8:00 am: Wake up the children
8-10 am: children are up, first block of work
10 am: break with the children
10:30 – 11:30 am: second block of work
11.30am — 1pm : lunch break
1-3 pm: third block of work
3-4 pm: activity with the children
4-5:30 pm: fourth working block
8 – 9 pm (to be adapted according to your needs): last working block

🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!

#BornToBeMe


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Wengood's playlist

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