While working from home is growing in popularity among many people today, an essential question on many others’ minds is the impact on productivity. The good thing about working from home is that you’re more in control of your work environment’s ambiance.
As we know, the ambiance plays a significant role in determining productivity, whether out of your bedroom, your study, or regular office environment.
Switching from a well-structured office environment to a work-from-home office may come with a few challenges. First, you have to be deliberate about creating the perfect space and schedule for your work at home.
However, if the switch is done right, your productivity has a chance of getting even better than before. The tips discussed in this article will be beneficial to people who work from the comfort of their homes because dealing with the distractions at home requires understanding what needs to be in place and what needs to be taken out of the way.
If you work as a freelancer or run a side hustle at home, you need to consider these five productivity tips to keep your efficiency optimum. You’ll be amazed at how much your productivity will grow.
#1 Maintain Regular Work Hours
If you work for yourself, it’s very tempting to assume that you’re in control of your time and that you can get work done anytime. Don’t be deceived. That kind of thinking will undoubtedly get you racing against deadlines after deadlines.
The hack is this: create a consistent work schedule for yourself. This is a time you set aside within each day that is most ideal for you to get the most work done. It should also be a time when people can reach you.
If you work for an organization where you have a supervisor to report to every morning, this is a lot easier to achieve. Your employer will most likely place you on a shift or something like that, so you don’t have to be sorry about creating the most suitable time for yourself.
Whether you realize it or not, this is one of the most basic and essential things you need to do to achieve better productivity at your home office.
Understandably, working from home gives you some flexibility, but you also need to be disciplined enough not to overstretch your flexibility.
#2 Create A Dedicated Home Office Space
One of the things that will impact your productivity negatively is the lack of a work-from-home office. The chance of you feeling more alert and more organized while working from home is higher when you have an office space that’s ideal for you.
Avoid working in your bed, while slouched in the chair, or on the dinner table. While you may be able to get some work done in any of the above positions, your productivity will jump to a larger scale if you have a dedicated desk and comfortable chair for working at home.
#3 Do Not Allow Intrusions into Your Work Space
While your friends, family members, and other guests may be welcome into your apartment or home, it’s not good to bring them into your workspace. You may need to create some time off work to attend to guests and attend to household matters but avoid having friendly chats and uninvited visits while you’re working.
People close to you, including those you work with, should always be aware of your work schedule – whether you’re off work or not. This allows for ease when they need to reach out.
Unless you can separate your personal time from work hours, your productivity will likely experience a drag. You can’t overemphasize the benefits of creating such boundaries. If you have children, it may not be easy to observe, but you have to keep letting people understand that you need to be allowed to concentrate while working.
#4 Have Your Work Resources Available and Functioning Optimally
Aside from your computer and Wi-Fi, be sure to have all the necessary gadgets and tools you need for work available at your workstation. It can be frustrating not to have the resources that you need. Studies have shown that effective communication is one of the factors that determine the productivity of remote workers.
Plan to replace stationary, such as pens, papers, clips, files, and folders. These items should also be kept within reach for easy retrieval. A Printer, a telephone, and other essentials also fall into this category. You’ll be amazed at how sweet work can be when everything is available at your disposal. Poor internet, for instance, is not only frustrating but hurts your business.
#5 Create Quality Time to Relax
Owing to the flexibility that comes with working from home, chances are you’ll take work into the bedroom, sitting room, or just about any place where you find some comfort. Remote work does require some serious discipline.
In the long run, this may prove to be a bad work attitude. Your health and sanity will be the first to take the hit. To avoid such, you need to draw a clear distinction between work time and rest time. Turn off all work reminders when you go to bed or during family time to avoid the temptation of switching to work when you ought to be resting or doing something else.
Wrapping Up
The beauty of working from anywhere or working from home is the flexibility it offers, but the same flexibility can be your undoing if not checked. For this reason, a conscious and deliberate effort ought to be taken towards keeping productivity high while working from home.
The tips discussed above are by no means exhaustive. Understandably, each line of work may require extra or unique tips for productivity. Therefore, in addition to the foregoing, ensure to arm yourself with such tips to ensure your home office’s success.
