How to Stay Productive Working From Home
The work force has shifted to accommodate their employees to work from the comfort of their own homes. But let's face it, the pandemic has affected all of us differently. While there are definite pros to working remotely such as eliminating time and money spent on commuting, having more time to spend with loved ones and pets, and sleeping in a little later during the work days, there are still some challenges to consider. Some individuals are able to work from home in a nice and cozy environment, while others may need to adjust their living situation to enhance their comfort level while keeping up the demands of work. Regardless of your situation, we all face the inevitable burn out while being home and staring at our computer screen for hours on end. The pandemic has a particularly brutal impact of hindering our ability to travel and take vacations when we need a break from the grind. As a result of the continuous days on end remote work, productivity may start to slip since we’re all facing the realities of being home more often than we thought. Here are 5 tips to help you stay productive while working from home.
One: Create or enhance your workspace!
Establishing the right working space is vital for your productivity. Whether you’re in a small apartment or have room in a house to set up a workspace, make sure to do it up right! This is the part I loved the most - getting to determine how I wanted my workspace to look and feel like. It meant I could truly make it my own.
Identify an area in your home where you will plan to sit comfortably with a large enough surface to create your space.
If you don’t have the right work surface, chair, or lighting, consider looking online (Amazon or Wayfair are great options)
Identify what items you need to work efficiently such as a wireless mouse, USB port, headphones, notepad, pens, lamp, desk organizer, and power surge protector (you’ll thank yourself for the surge protector in the long run)
Once you have all your items, set-up your essentials on your surface and then see what decor options you can include to create “the feel” of your space. Some decor options can include: plants, candles, wall art, your diploma or any notable certifications, flowers, inspirational quotes, etc. Whatever you feel will help you be “in the zone,” don’t skimp out on. Afterall, this space is just for you!
Don’t forget the most important set-up, of ensuring your at 4 legged at home work partner has a comfortable pet bed set-up next to your space. After all, I’m sure our furry friends provide us with all the smiles and motivation we need during the work days.
Two: Create a routine!
I can’t stress this point enough. It’s hard falling into patterns now that the typical go-in-to the office routine has been disrupted. When you were getting up in the early mornings and dragging yourself out of bed to get ready, commute, and grab your morning breakfast or coffee, it was all laid out for you. Now, we’re all dragging ourselves out of bed to get coffee and log into the computer.
To help with this, try to start your days at the same time. Set an alarm to wake up at the same time to get ready, spend time with your loved ones and pets, make breakfast, get your morning coffee or tea, and then login. Create a to-do list of priorities you plan to accomplish with regularly scheduled breaks (including lunch) to get up and stretch your legs. Try to end your days at the same time to create a sense of balance and normalcy.
Three: Exercise regularly!
Whether we’re in the office or at home, the demands of the job do not stop based on location. The challenge now is that we’re home and moving around less since we’re confined to an apartment or house. Exercising regularly has so many health benefits for you. To list a few, exercise is good for your muscles, can help reduce pain and stress, elevate your mood, increase your energy levels, improve brain health and memory, and prevent weight gain.
So now you may be thinking, what kind of exercises can you possibly do from home. Well, not to worry because I have a few ideas in mind:
Go outside and take a long walk
Go outside for a jog
Go play a sport if you have access, such as basketball or soccer
Consider a workout app, such as Peloton, to take classes virtually
Consider investing in at home equipment such as a yoga mat, weights, stationary bike, foldable walking/running pad, or elliptical
Four: Take a break!
I’ll keep this point short and sweet, so trust me when I say that you need to do this. Now that we’re home, it's hard to break free from the laptop. Even though some of us have kids or pets or other family members we’re caring for, we all need the mental and physical break. The work may not be going anywhere and the demand is still very real, but taking a moment to get up and stretch your legs is beneficial for your mental and physical health in more ways than one. Complaints of burn out and screen fatigue are real. Taking a small break to stretch your legs, get water, go outside and get some air is vital. Research has found that stepping away and taking a break can:
Increase your productivity
Enhance your mental well-being
Boost your creativity
Reduce stress
Increase your memory and concentration
So schedule time on your calendar each day to remind yourself that you are important too and establish regularly scheduled breaks in between the Zoom calls.
Five: Breathe
The most basic thing to do is breathe. I’m sure you’re thinking that this point is ridiculous and tip #5 should be something else. But no. Breathe. Breathe in and breathe out. Remember to breathe. Did I forget to mention to breathe?
But on a serious note, taking time to meditate has become an increasingly important and common practice. The stress of being at home, surrounded by work demands, family demands and not going out regularly add to the increasing amount of stress. Taking a break or creating a meditation routine can benefit you in the following ways:
Reduce stress
Provides emotional balance
Increases your focus
Reduces pain
Reduces anxiety
Increases your creativity
Reduces depression
Increases your memory