Part of our ‘Working from home‘ Series
Most of us will have found ourselves working from home for a fair amount of time at this point. However, that doesn’t mean that we’ve all become accustomed to the new working environment; having to stay inside for long periods of time can lead to fatigue, feeling isolated and often a decline in productivity. Whilst working from the comfort of your own home may seem ideal at first, a lack of self-motivation and routine can lead to becoming distracted easily and feeling even more isolated. So, to keep you on track here’s a couple of things you could do alleviate this.
1. Find the right space
Where you work is often crucial to how you end up working. A home office is perfect, but not everyone has the luxury of having a spare room in their house just for work. Therefore, most often, you’ll have to find a space in your home and dedicate it as your workspace.
Primarily, try not to work from your bed – especially when you’re already sleepy or tired. Try and get up and out of bed, particularly if your bedroom is the only private area in your home, and is your working space. That means doing the things that you would usually do in the morning before you got to work. And once you’re up and working, sit up and avoid working from in your bed.
Subsequently, try to avoid working somewhere you’ll be distracted. There may be the temptation to do the dishes, the laundry or to stick Netflix on, but if you wouldn’t do any of these things in your usual office environment, then don’t start doing them at home. Avoid sitting with the TV on and leave chores till after your working day is complete.
2. Create a routine
Maintaining a routine will make your remote working life easier than you’d think. Getting ready for work at the beginning of the day just as you would if you were leaving the house – shower, wash your face, eat breakfast – not only will it help to wake you up, but it can also help to motivate you to start the day the right way.
Once you start work, put together a to-do list of tasks that will need to be done during the day or the week. You’ll be able to keep track of any work that needs doing and things won’t risk being forgotten about. It’s a good way to keep your day structured and organise your time effectively.
3. Change of scenery
If you’re lucky enough to have spare rooms or empty spaces in your home, make the most of them. Move around each of your spaces when you feel boredom or procrastination begin to settle in. A change in environment can boost productivity and can help to realign your focus on a task. Why not try using your desk or usual office space for focused tasks but then move out to your patio, garden, or balcony for more remedial tasks such as answering emails or making calls.
4. Take a break
When you work in the office, it’s unlikely that you’ll work a full 8 hours with no breaks or gaps, so don’t force yourself to do the same at home. Lunch and coffee breaks, chat with colleagues, set aside time at home just like you would in the office; make a drink, have a snack, or give someone a quick call if you have no one to talk to at home. Don’t stop socialising just because you may be working home alone. Set aside 10-15 minutes every couple hours to move away from your screens. You’ll find you’re more productive when you walk away from your PC and desk at intervals through the day and come back with a fresh mind.
If you are missing being active, start exercising. You don’t necessarily have to be the person that adapts a whole gym routine to a home set-up, but something as simple as stretching your legs in your home, or going for a walk around the park can instantly boost your mood and keep your muscles engaged.
And finally, and possibly most importantly, stick to your working schedule. With your workspace being in such proximity, you may feel that you have to work over your usual hours or stay on your PC for longer to ‘prove’ that you’re working. Unless necessary, tick to your usual working hours and close that PC down when the working day is done.
