There is much uncertainty about when our work lives will be back to normal. It’s important to remember that you can only control so much of what’s going on right now. Working from home has been a drastic change for everyone, and not many thought it would go on as long as it has. However, working from home seems to be here to stay, at least through 2020. Below are a few ways to make sure you’re staying productive while working from home.
Designate a specific workspace
It’s important to have a specific workspace to help you focus. By having a designated spot in your home, you will have less distractions and a deeper focus. However, not everyone has an actual office space in their home. You have to make the best use of the space you have. Places such as a kitchen counter and dining room table are great work spaces. If possible, avoid working in your bedroom. Your body and mind associate it with sleep, so trying to work all day in there won’t be as easy. You should dedicate a space that you can associate with your work then leave once you’re off. This means not on a couch, and definitely not in your bed.
Customize your environment
While you can’t always control where you get to work, you can control your work environment. The benefit of working from home is that you can personalize your workspace in ways that you may not have been able to while at the office. It can be fun and a good mental exercise to help you relax.
Whether it’s a candle, plant, or photo, you should customize your work environment. These should be things that help you feel comfortable, focused, and motivated throughout the day. They can also have positive effects on your emotional well-being.
Keep regular hours
This can be a challenge for many, but keeping meeting schedules and regular calls with your team can help you maintain a regular work schedule. Don’t let working from home stop you from maintaining a regular work schedule. The more familiar and consistent your work schedule is from when you used to go into the office, the better.
Along with this, you need to keep bad habits out of your schedule. If you sleep in late or play video games midday, you can completely erode productivity. Make sure you keep the good habits while not letting bad ones start. You need to find a routine that works best for you and stick with it.
Create and maintain a morning routine
Similar to keeping regular hours, you should develop a morning routine. This can help you have a more productive workday. By creating a routine for your morning that you repeat each day, you can have positive effects on your work life and mindset. Whatever system you had in place before working from home, try to stick to it. If you didn’t have one, now is a good time to start.