Working from Home
11 Tips to Stay Motivated
With the Coronavirus pandemic ranging throughout the world, many office workers have found themselves working remotely from their homes. If you are not used to working from home, it can be challenging to get your routine going and to stay motivated. Here are 11 tips to help you stay motivated when working from home.
Although many may experience a jump in productivity when working from home, some also suffer from distractions,a lack of routine, or lack of motivation. It’s important to have a set routine, even when working from home. This can help you to stay motivated and be more productive throughout the day.
Communication is Key
Collaborative environments are key to a productive workplace. Luckily, there are many programs that allow remote office workers to collaborate, no matter where they may be located. Zoom and Google Hangouts are popular remote communications tools.
Because so many of us work in very collaborative environments, it is critical to remain connected no matter where we work. It is important to ensure that your workplace has a sufficient medium of communication, such as video conferencing, that allows you to collaborate on projects.
Have a Dedicated Workspace
Just because you’re not at your office doesn’t mean you can’t have a dedicated place to work at home. For ultimate productivity, it is important to have a dedicated workspace. Pretty much anywhere with an internet connection could do the trick.
This could be a home office, kitchen table, or even a coffee shop. It is just important to choose a space that best suits you, and will allow you to be the most productive. If you have family at home during the work day, be sure to choose a location where you won’t be in their way, and vice-versa.
Plan Your Day
Planning your day will help keep you accountable while working remotely. It is important to set goals throughout the day and try your best to meet and exceed them. Similar to an office environment where you get up at a certain time and commute, you should have ample structure in your day in order to manage your time. For example, you should wake up at a certain time and structure your day as if you’re going into the office, and use what would be your commute time to begin your work.
Take Breaks
When working from home, it can be easy to lose track of time. Similar to being in the office, you should take a 5-10 minute break periodically in order to refresh. Use this time to talk to others, or even take a brisk walk outside with the dog. Taking breaks is important, as it oftentimes allows us to clear our minds and become more productive.
Stay Focused
Many remote workers find it difficult to stay focused because the boss isn’t micromanaging them, however, you still must stay focused and productive, even with this freedom. Most distractions are work-related and oftentimes come in the form of emails and other notifications from co-workers on messenger apps. This could distract you from the task at hand, and lead to juggling multiple projects at once.
It is recommended that in order to remain focused, you disable notifications from messenger apps, and focus on the task at hand. You should also make use of distraction-busting tools like the Do Not Disturb function on the Mac, or silent mode on your phone. If your phone continues to be a distraction, even when on mute, perhaps try leaving your phone in another room or out of view.
Exercise and Eat Healthy
Exercise is one of the key elements to increased self-confidence, helps you sleep better, and allows you increased focus. Make time every day to go on a quick jog/bike ride, etc. to help get your heart pumping and blood flowing. It is important to exercise and eat healthily, as this can significantly improve your day, and help you become more productive.
Healthy foods help maintain focus and can help keep you on track. Superfoods such as avocados, blueberries, dark chocolate, and nuts are all great foods to help you focus. Similarly, various drinks, such as green tea, are scientifically proven to improve your brain’s cognitive function.
Plan Personal Time
Although you may want to work all hours of the day, it is important to take a break and make time for your loved ones. While working from home, it can be difficult to keep track of time, and you may work more than you would in the office. Therefore, planning personal time is essential to remain motivated and on task. Time away from the work computer is a great way to remain refreshed and be more productive.
This is essential to maintaining both your mental and physical health and will prevent you from getting burnt out. It is important to plan at least a few hours to yourself to do something you enjoy.
Contribute to your Self-Growth
Self-growth and self-care are two topics that are thrown around quite often these days. However, taking time out of your day to give your brain a rest is paramount to productivity and success. Because working from home is flexible, you have the opportunity to contribute more of your time to self-growth. When taking a break from your daily responsibilities, it is important to engage in an activity in which you can learn a new skill, and further increase your overall personal awareness.
Try to Avoid Distractions
Avoiding distractions is critical to staying productive while working from home. Therefore, you should remove any elements, such as your phone, notifications, and other media that may disrupt your productivity.
Be Consistent
Although when working from home there is rarely a set schedule, it is important to set a routine and stick to it. It’s extremely important to remain consistent with your schedule and have a dedicated routine in order to add structure to your day. Get up at a certain time, get dressed as if you’re going to the office, and make the most of your time throughout the day.
Dress the Part
When you think of working from home or remotely, you may think about working in pajamas or other comfy clothes. However, it is important to dress the part, as if you are going to the office. Even though you will be home all day, it is important to dress well. The way you dress will significantly boost your confidence and allow you to be more productive throughout the day.
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