How To Be More Productive Working From Home: My Top 10 Tips

How To Be More Productive Working From Home

Working from home definitely has its perks, but it can also be quite challenging. Compared to working outside the home, there are a few key challenges that people often face when working from home.

As a homeschooling mom of 4 who also runs 2 businesses out of her home, I've definitely had to learn a few tricks to be successful without losing my mind. It ain't easy to keep your "cool" when someone spills the milk right as you're about to start your work day or when your "office" is currently being used as a "fort". But it can be done, lol!

One of the biggest challenges of working from home is staying focused and productive. It can be very easy to get distracted when you’re working in your own space. There are so many things that can tempt you to take a break from work, whether it’s the TV, your bed, or even just scrolling through social media.

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Here are 10 simple ways to help you stay focused and productive when working from home:

1. Decide & Set Your "Ground Rules"

The first step to being productive when working from home is to set some ground rules for yourself. This may look different for everyone, but it’s important to have some guidelines in place so that you can stay on track.

Some examples of "rules" you may want to consider are:

- what time you will start working each day

- how long you will work for

- where you will work

- what tasks you need to accomplish

- when you will take breaks

-how you'll handle distractions

Setting ground rules for yourself when it comes to "how you work" can help increase your productivity in a couple ways. First, it helps to establish a boundary between work and leisure time. This can prevent you from getting too easily distracted by things like social media or TV.

Additionally, it can give you a sense of structure and routine which can be helpful in staying on track with your work. If you’re working from home for the first time, setting these types of guidelines can be especially helpful in making the transition.

2. Wake Up & Get Dressed

Oh boy - if the world shutting down & moving to Zoom taught us anything, it's that people love their pajamas! It can be SO tempting to just roll out of bed and start working in your PJs (or even worse - in your bed!). But trust me when I say that this is a recipe for disaster.

Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you can roll out of bed and start working in your pajamas. Although this may sound like a perk, it can actually be quite detrimental to your productivity.

Waking up and getting dressed (even if you’re just putting on a pair of jeans & a t-shirt - or yoga pants like me!) can help you to mentally prepare for your work day. It can also help you to feel more alert and focused.

3. Create a Dedicated Workspace

One of the best ways to increase your productivity when working from home is to create a dedicated workspace for yourself. This can be anything from a simple desk in your bedroom to a more elaborate home office.

The important thing is that you have a space where you can go to focus on your work and minimize distractions. This will help you to mentally “switch gears” into work mode when you sit down at your desk.

If you don’t have an extra room in your house or apartment to use as an office, there are still plenty of options for creating a dedicated workspace. Even something as simple as setting up a small desk in a quiet corner of your living room can be effective.

Don't worry about the setup of your office being "perfect" - the most important thing is that you have a space where you can go to focus on your work.

*FAVE ALERT! If you hate the idea of "sitting" all day, check out these standing desks!

(Amazon affiliate link)

4. Take Breaks & Get Moving

Ok, this one is hard for me. I'm one of those people that can sit at my desk for hours without moving. But I've learned the importance of taking breaks, even if it's just for a couple minutes.

It’s important to take breaks when you’re working from home, just as you would if you were working in an office. This will help you to avoid burnout and stay refreshed and focused on your work.

One way to make sure you are taking breaks is to set a timer for yourself. Once the timer goes off, take a few minutes to stand up, stretch, and walk around. This will help to increase your circulation and keep your energy levels up. It's recommended by the "gurus" to take a break every 45-50 minutes.

(My own advice: don't take a break in the kitchen. You'll end up snacking every hour!)

Another great way to get moving during your break is to go for a quick walk or run. Getting some fresh air and exercise can do wonders for your energy levels and focus.

5. Check Email On A Schedule

So what happens when we wake up and grab our phone before our feet ever hit the floor as business owners? Well, we're in business, so we often check our emails.

It seems like a productive way to start the day, but in reality, it can be a huge time-suck because by opening emails, we're adding straight away more things "to do" to our list. And we begin to allow the emails and our clients' needs to dictate our schedule instead of the other way around.

Whenever possible, try to get your #1 priority task for the day done BEFORE checking your email for the day. That way YOU are in control of your tasks instead of being "reactive" and meeting the demands of the emails that may not be a true priority at that time.

If you find yourself constantly checking your email throughout the day, try setting specific times for checking and responding to messages. Once or twice a day should be sufficient for most people. This will help you to avoid getting sidetracked by your inbox and stay focused on your work.

6. Plan Projects Around Distractions

When working from home, it's helpful if your tasks are prioritized in order of importance. Then, you can plan to work on the most intensive tasks at a time when you know you won't be distracted. For some, this means working early in the morning before anyone else is up and about. For others, it might mean working late at night after the kids are in bed.

It's also important to take into account your own natural rhythms and energy levels when planning your workday. If you're not a morning person, don't try to force yourself to work early in the day. Find a time that works better for you and stick to it as much as possible.

Long story short, you'll need focus undivided attention on the project at hand. When distractions are abound, it's difficult to stay focused and get things done. By scheduling your most intensive tasks for a time when you know you won't be disturbed, you'll be more productive working from home.

7. Declutter Your Space & Mind

The state of your environment can have a big impact on your focus and productivity working from home. If your desk is cluttered with papers, memos, and other knick-knacks, it can be distracting and make it difficult to get work done.

The same goes for your computer desktop. Having too many icons and open windows can be visually overwhelming and make it hard to find what you're looking for.

To help increase your focus and productivity working from home, take some time to declutter your physical and virtual spaces. Organize your desk, clear off your computer desktop, and make sure you have everything you need within reach.

A few simple storage solutions can make a big difference in keeping your workspace organized. Invest in a few good quality storage bins or baskets to hold things like office supplies, paperwork, and other items. This will help to clear up clutter and make it easier to find what you need when you need it.

You should also take some time to declutter your mind by writing down any thoughts or ideas that are taking up space in your head. This will help to clear your mind and allow you to focus on the task at hand. And throughout the day when you think of something else you need to do, write it down and make decluttering your mind a habit.

*Confession, I LOVE office organization! This farmhouse file organizer is on my list when I get my new office space - you can use them on the wall or on the desk <3

(Amazon affiliate link)

8. Set Aside Time for Family & Friends

When I'm homeschooling 4 kids and working 2 businesses from home, it's hard to find time for anything else. But I've learned that it's important to set aside time for the people who matter most in my life. Setting time aside for family & friend can help you to avoid feeling isolated and stressed out when trying to focus on working from home.

One way to prioritize this is to schedule regular check-ins with your loved ones. This could be a weekly phone call or video chat with your parents, or a daily text message check-in with your best friend.

My parents call us every day to read with each of the kids over the phone or on Zoom to help with their schooling and to keep in touch with what's going on in their lives. It takes away the worry of not being close physically since we moved 1/2 way across the country and makes us feel more connected to them.

Another option is to make time for social activities outside of work. This could be anything from going out to lunch with a friend to taking your dog for a walk around the block.

The important thing is that you make time for the people you care about, even if it’s just a few minutes here and there. This will help you to feel more balanced and productive when working from home.

9.Keep a Routine Instead of a Schedule

Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you have to abandon all sense of schedule - although I will admit that a hard & fast "schedule" may not work as well in the home setting as it does in the office.

So instead of opting for a set "schedule", I recommend having a loose "routine" that will help you be more focused and productive working from home.

Because many of us have families that we take care of at home, there are very few of us are going to be able to follow a strict minute-by-minute schedule. Most of us just love the idea of a color-coded schedule that maps out exactly what we need to do that day to be productive in both our work and home obligations. In our minds, we want start and stop times. Time for work. Time for play. But what happens when the unexpected creeps up on us and we need time to take care of something that wasn't part of the plan?

(You know, like that time my daughter fell and broke her toe and I needed to run her to the doctor, or how about that morning when my son woke up with a fever of 103 and I had to spend all morning cleaning up vomit from the rug, his favorite stuffed animal...oh, and his sister's hair?)

Yup. Things will happen.

One way is to start by dividing your days into 3 chunks of time: morning, afternoon and evening. Then, designate the TYPE of activities you'll be doing that day inside those 3 chunks - remembering that the timing of the activities are "loose" and depends on the priorities for the day.

Another way to keep a routine is to set daily, weekly or monthly goals that you work on during different times of the day. This will help you to focus on what's important and not get sidetracked by the mundane tasks that always seem to pop up.

10. Make Time for Yourself

Believe it or not, I used to think this was a "chore". I've never been one to sit still for very long, so the idea of taking time out for myself just seemed like wasted time. But I've since learned that making time for myself is crucial to maintaining my productivity and focus when working from home.

And no, I'm not talking about taking a long, luxurious bath (although that sounds nice, doesn't it?) I'm talking about taking a few minutes each day to do something that makes YOU happy & feel refreshed.

One way to do this is to schedule regular breaks for yourself. This could be anything from taking a few minutes to step away from your desk each hour to taking a longer break in the middle of the day.

Another option is to use your lunch break as a chance to do something that you enjoy. This could be anything from reading a book to doing yoga or baking cookies (if that's your gift).

The important thing is that you take some time each day to relax and rejuvenate, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

In summary, working from home can be a great way to take control of your schedule & your life. But it’s important to remember that you need to be productive & focus in order to be successful. By following the tips above, you’ll be on your way to a more productive & focused work-from-home lifestyle.

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