Three easy tips for productive home working
When I tell people I work from home, I generally get a ‘yeah, right’ kind of response. And I know what they mean. It can be easy to get distracted by household stuff when your office is a corner of the kitchen!
Having worked from home for the last 10 years or so, I know that keeping focused is the only way to get stuff done. Here are three things I've learned about minimising distraction and keeping productivity high when you’re working from home.
Get up, get showered, get dressed
Your morning routine sets the tone for your whole day so it’s important to have one! Getting up at a regular time, showering and dressing in something comfortable helps you feel ready for whatever the day may throw at you. You may not be going into an office or seeing clients—in fact, you might not see a single person all day—but that’s no excuse for letting your morning drift. I definitely feel more relaxed and ready to work when I know I’m not going to give the postman a fright when I open the door!
Get organized
A woman’s work is never done as they say (and that’s a whole other blog topic) but I know I feel a certain amount of responsibility to keep the house in order when I’m working from home. Not least because it’s just more pleasant to work in a tidy space. I wouldn’t recommend taking the whole morning to clean the house—who wants to do that before they start work anyway—but blasting through a couple of small household chores at the start of the day can stop you worrying unduely about the laundry basket getting out of control. Then draw a line under domestic duties for the day, sit down, without feeling guilty, and start working on your real passion—your business!
Get a plan
Just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean you have to work all the hours God sends. But it can be hard to cut off and separate work time from family time if you don't have a plan. Treat working from home just the same as working in an office: decide what days you work, what time your office opens and what time it closes. Then focus hard on completing your work within those hours. Don’t overdo it though. Remember to factor in regular breaks away from the screen, have lunch or go for a walk to keep your energy flowing. Find a quiet space in the house where you can put your desk, laptop, and files—even if it is only a corner of the kitchen. When you’re finished for the day, make a list of what you've got to do tomorrow, close down your office and get ready to enjoy your evening.
For me, being productive at home is all about minimising distractions so my mind is clear and I can focus on my work. What are your tips for being a productive home worker and getting the most out of your day?