Have to work from home and want to know how to do so productively? Whilst some people are a pro at working from home, for others it is an alien concept and the moment they leave the office everything falls apart.
Whether you are working from home permanently or temporarily, I’m going to be sharing 9 tips to help you to work from home productively.
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HAVE THE RIGHT SET UP & TECHNOLOGY
In order to work from home productively, you first need to make sure you have the right set-up. For most people that will mean having a laptop or desktop computer, having access to your email and documents drive, and having the ability to communicate with colleagues. Slack is a great tool for being able to send instant messages both on a personal level and in a team. Zoom is a great tool for being able to host group conference calls.
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GET CHANGED
For many people, one of the big perks of working from home is not having to get dressed “for the office”. Whilst I’m absolutely not going to tell you to put office clothes you definitely shouldn’t stay in your pyjamas. Instead get up (a decent time before you need to start working, have a shower or bath and then get changed into something that makes you feel ready for work.
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TAKE BREAKS AWAY FROM THE SCREEN
When you are in an office it is natural to take breaks away from the screen. Someone will come to your desk and ask a question, which turns into a conversation. You’ll have meetings where you are chatting to people face-to-face. And hopefully, you’ll be taking your lunch. When you are working from home it is easy to be glued to your screen, but it isn’t good. Make sure at least once an hour you get up and have a little walk around your home.
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HAVE A ROUTINE
One of the first things to disappear when you work from home is your usual routine. If you usually have a commute it is likely that now you’ll be enjoying the lie-in instead. Maybe you used to go to the gym on your lunch and now that has gone out the window. Having a routine is important for productivity. You need to get your mind ready for work and if you already had a routine that worked well try and mimic it as much as possible.
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CREATE A SPECIFIC WORKSPACE
One of the problems with working from home is it blurs your work/home environment. If you have the option to make a specific workspace do it. If your only option is to work on your coffee or kitchen table then make sure at the end of the day you turn all of your devices off (this includes your mobile) and put them away.
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WORK OUT WHAT BACKGROUND AUDIO WORKS BEST FOR YOU
Some people work amazingly in silence, whilst others prefer music. If you have been working in an open-plan office it is likely that you’ve gone from a bustling office to a silent home. Silence might not be the most productive way to work. If the silence is freaking you out try playing different types of music. Classical music (or music without words) is often promoted to help with productivity.
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TAKE YOUR LUNCH BREAK
In the same way that taking breaks is important now more than ever you need to take your lunch break. Move away from where you are working (or just shut your laptop / turn your screen off). Refuel your body so you can return for a productive afternoon.
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MAKE SURE OTHER PEOPLE KNOW YOU ARE WORKING
It is surprising how many people don’t understand the whole ‘working from home’ concept. Make sure that everyone else in your environment understands that even though you are at home you are working and shouldn’t be disturbed unless it is an emergency.
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WRITE A TO-DO LIST THE NIGHT BEFORE OR IN THE MORNING
Generally, there is always more work than time. Being productive at home is the same as being productive in the office – you need to focus on what matters! Either at the end of the day or the next morning before you start right a list of the IMPORTANT things you need to achieve in the day. You might have to add something to list during the day, but if at least you start with a clear list there is a better chance of you getting to the end of the day and feeling that you’ve had a productive day.
There you have it. There are 9 ways to work from home productively.
That is just 9 of many tips. So if you have other tips please feel free to drop them in the comments below.
And if you decide to try something out I would love you to let me know in the comments how you get on.
