In lots of
families, both parents have to work, so it makes sense for one partner to set
him or herself to work from home. At the same time, they will be able to fetch
and carry the children to and from school. This also saves money in child care
costs, as well as time and gas in travelling to work.
A major problem
when you work from home is often a lack of motivation. It can be really
debilitating, and if you miss the camaraderie of interacting with colleagues,
it can make working from home alone a very daunting prospect. Although research
has shown that people who are working from home are generally happier, it is
also harder to be on your own because you get fewer raises and you have no one
with whom to discuss any decisions you make. Let’s have a look at some tips to
boost your productivity when working from home:
●
Set yourself up for Success
If you have decided that working from home is for
you, then you have to think it out carefully and be very strict with yourself.
Make sure you get up at the same time as you would if you had to drive to the
office. Make sure you have an office set up at home - a separate little nook in
the dining room or your own spare room that you can convert and deck out like
an office. And then, the only thing you do in your office is work.
●
Get Dressed
Have a shower and get dressed – do not mope
around the house in your pajamas all day – you are at home to work, not play.
You want this to be a success, and you want to be productive, so get up and get
ready for work. Putting on office attire will get your mind to thinking that
this is for real, this is my work environment.
● Map out your Day
If you want to be a success, plan your day every
day – even plan your week. Get a decent calendar on your laptop and check your
calendar every day, make a ‘to do’ list and stick to it. There is no better feeling
than being able to tick off a chore or business report that you have completed.
Sticking to a schedule will make you feel professional and focused, and it will
enable you to increase your productivity.
● Diminish the
Distractions
It is so easy to tell yourself you need a break
so that you can veg on the couch and watch an episode of your favorite program
– that is all well and good, but then make sure it is only one episode. You
have to be disciplined and make your priority.
● Get your Family
on Board
So, you might not think your family’s feelings
matter if you want to work from home, but they do. Sit them down and explain
how it will work and what you expect to achieve by working in your home office.
Make it clear that you are not there to pick up the dry cleaning and start
cooking the dinner. It will also be an adjustment for them – suddenly you are
home every afternoon when the kids get home – now they think they have you to
help them with their homework. But that
is not part of your plan. You have to stick to your schedule – once they see
you are serious about it, they will start to respect your working hours.
● Be Happy
When you think of successful people like Elon Musk and Richard Branson for example, if they were not happy with their work, they would not be where they are today. Hard work pays off, and it pays off even more if you are happy while you are doing it. Research shows that people are 12% more productive if they are happy in what they do – think about that. If you are satisfied, you will work longer and better.
● Get up Early
Productive people get up early. There is plenty of evidence showing that rising early contributes to your productivity. And this is because in the morning you are fresh and raring to go and at your best as far as concentration goes. So work out a morning routine for yourself. Maybe get up at 5.30, do some meditation for 15 minutes, go for a little jog, shower, have breakfast and by 7.30 you are ready to start working feeling on top of the world. Benjamin Franklin did this, and Barack Obama does it.
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● Work less Not More
Nowadays most people work long hours, and if you can go that extra mile, you will reap the benefits. According to a study that was carried out on top achievers, they split their working day into 90 minute intervals, with 20-30 minute breaks in between each 90 minutes. This would allow you to focus completely on one task at a time and know that you are giving it your all. Instead of doing bits and pieces of each project, do one at a time – it is a winning formula. Do all your important work in the morning when you are fresh, and leave mundane tasks to the afternoon.
● Exercise Regularly, Eat Regularly
Oh, and by the way, also take some time out to do
some exercise – the benefits of this cannot be over-emphasized. If you are fit
and healthy, your work will flow smoothly, so get into the habit of regular
exercise – healthy mind, healthy body. If you go jogging, listen to self-help
lessons, or listen to your favorite music – get your mind off your work and
focus on yourself. This includes eating healthy meals. If you eat the right
kinds of food, you will find your mind will work better; you will be sharper
and far more productive.
The Bottom Line
You have to be
extremely disciplined and very strict with yourself – yes, I am dying to finish
that book, but only when I have finished this article, will I then read the
book. Set little goals and stick to them. To counteract the feeling of
isolation, you can pop in to visit friends in similar industries now and again,
and also attend any events pertinent to your industry, so you get the benefits
of both worlds.
Right, now you
have some helpful tips to assist you setting up your office at home and to help
you separate your working life from your home life. It is very important that
everyone around you respects this distinction, so you can relax and concentrate
on being productive.
Finally, stick to your set working hours.
Otherwise, you are always 'in the office, ' and you will end up hating it and
not having enough time away from it, not to mention the complaints you will get
from your family. Be productive = work hard, play hard.
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