10 Productivity Tips For Successfully Working From Home

The thoughts most have about working out of the home are not an accurate reflection of reality.

There is a preconceived notion that working from home is an absolute dream. Where you get to roll out of bed when you want to, work in your pajamas all day, and not worry about sitting in traffic for hours.

Although there are benefits, working from home can substantially decrease productivity.

“Stop complaining,” some might say, “at least you can work from the comforts of your home every day.”

However, without good working habits, it can be difficult to remain on task and even keep your job, due to the countless hours and dollars wasted on unproductivity. Research shows that every year, employers lose approximately $1.8 trillion due to lost productivity often caused by a lack of engagement with the job, hangovers, chronic health problems and more.

Yet, changing simple habits and your home environment can easily boost your motivation. Here are 10 productivity tips to help you out:

1. The Home Office

One of the most vital roles with any workspace is your environment. No other tips can be useful if your home office is not conducive to your needs.

There are several methods to help create an atmosphere where you can be productive when working from home such as the following.

  • Stick To A Clear Schedule

  • Ensure You Have All The Equipment And Software You Need To Work

  • Pick A Time When You “Log off” Each Day

2. Schedule Time For You

Your work is going to reflect your mood and wellbeing. Take care of yourself.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Stop Trying To Multitask

  • Create To-Do Lists For The Next Day

  • Work In Ninety Minute Intervals

3. Be Mindful Of Technology

The digital world offers many useful tools to help you complete jobs and tasks, but it can also distract you from your work duties.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Do Not Turn On Unnecessary Electronics

  • Stay Away From Websites And Social Networks That Are Unrelated To Work During Work Hours

  • Spend Zero Time Surfing The Web

4. Be A Careful Communicator

Providing details needed to complete tasks correctly and on-time, but be sure to communicate only necessary information.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Pick Up The Phone To Talk About More Detailed Projects Rather Than Going Back And Forth Via Text

  • Schedule Appoints With Clients And Adhere To The Time Allotted

  • Use IM Or Group Chats To Converse With Multiple Co-Workers At One Time

5. Interrupt The Interruptions

It is easy to become distracted by your children, neighbors, and pets, which is why you must prepare yourself and your work area for the possibility of multiple interruptions.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Establish Boundaries For Work And Personal Time

  • Avoid Taking Personal Calls

  • Hire Child And Pet Care Services

6. Review And Prioritize Your Daily Tasks Like A Boss

When you become unorganized, you open the doors to feeling overwhelmed, which hurts productivity.

Do yourself a favor and know your daily work priorities.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Create A Daily Priority List Of What Work Needs To Be Completed First

  • Pay Close Attention To Time Sensitive Jobs

  • Delegate When Necessary To Ensure Work Is Finished On-Time

7. Make Procrastination Your Biggest Enemy

Resist the urge to procrastinate, an easy trap to fall into when there is a looming project

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Make Each Job More Manageable By Dividing Them Into Smaller Tasks

  • Start Working On Bigger Tasks First

  • Create A Reward System To Help Pull You Through The Harder Times

8. Playing Pretend Can Save The Day

Since you do not have to be at work for a particular time or be face-to-face with clients and co-workers, you can quickly slip into a cycle of carelessness.

Not caring for your inner and outer self can be detrimental to your work, so, it is time to “play pretend” and turn things around.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Pretend You Are Going To An Outside Office Each Day

  • Make A Similar Morning Routine As If You Were Going To Leave The House For Work

  • Do All Of The Things You Would Do To Prepare For An Office Role

9. Commit To Doing More

Never let yourself take the “easy” route or end up with nothing to do. If you have too much time on your hands, it can lead to productivity issues.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Overestimate The Amount Of Projects You Need To Do Each Day

  • Prepare For Empty Time Slots With A Backup Plan

  • Fill Your Schedule To The Brim

10. Reward Your Accomplishments Every Single Time

Doing even the little things to feel a sense of accomplishment is essential to keep you motivated and productive throughout your workday.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Use A Check-Mark System To Keep Track Of The Work You Completed

  • Ring A Bell Or Blow A Horn Every Time You Land A Sale Or Hand In A Job On Time

  • Make A Set Of Goals For Work Needing To Be Completed And Work Towards Beating Them

When working from home, productivity comes from implementing an effective and efficient work system.

Be realistic in the goals you create, design a space that will nurture your needs, and allow you to flourish.

Stay interested, focused, disciplined, and highly productive by implementing procedures to follow that set you up for nothing less than greatness.

EconomicsAmanda RyanComment