Working productively and motivated from home can be a challenge. One of the hardest things about working from home is staying motivated and keeping work and personal life separate. Let’s learn how to stay motivated and productive when working from home.
How do I keep my motivation? How do I work productively? How do I communicate with my colleagues, team members, fellow human beings, children, partners, or roommates? In the last few years, I have combined full-time employment with a freelance writing business. I’ll show you how to increase your motivation and productivity in the home office with these 9 tips.
1. Stick to a schedule
I’ve always liked the idea of working from home instead of sitting in an office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. These times seem arbitrary, and it’s silly to think we can be productive for 8 hours straight. Still, I’ve found that regulating my work is easier if I stick to regular working hours.
Of course, I have the freedom to hang up the laundry or go to the supermarket while on a Zoom call on my mobile (the one, you know, when all you say is “Hello everyone” and “Bye!”), but regular working hours help me get more done.
I recommend starting and finishing work at a similar time each day. You don’t have to be punctually at your computer at 9:00 am, but you are still responsible for completing your work on time.
2. Make time for yourself before and after work
It’s easy to roll out of bed in the morning and go straight to your desk or work until bedtime–or even in bed. Since you are lucky enough not to have to commute, you should make the most of your extra time.
Do something for yourself, such as going for a walk, exercising, making an excellent breakfast, making a delicious cup of coffee, meditating, or reading a book.
If there’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do before or after work, try adding it to your schedule. This is a great way to ensure your work doesn’t take up your whole day.
3. Get dressed
Since you don’t have anyone to judge you for your clothing choices, you may find yourself working in your pajamas all day. It’s fun sometimes, but you may feel lazy after a few days in dirty sweatshirts.
I often wear jeans, which feel like a step up from pajama bottoms, but I find that putting on a proper outfit and doing my makeup makes me more productive. This has the advantage of being ready if you get an unexpected video call or need to run an errand.
4. Don’t watch TV unless you are doing everyday chores.
It can be tempting to work in the background with Netflix on, but I’ve found that this distracts me more than anything. It’s really impossible to focus on both work and the show, so try to only turn on your favorite series when you’re doing tasks that don’t require a great deal of mental exertion.
Image: Reddit
5. Create a productive atmosphere
While I don’t recommend watching TV while you work, I recommend a few YouTube videos to help create a calming work atmosphere. Take advantage of working from your own space and make yourself 100% comfortable. Light a candle, make background noise, make a cup of coffee, and get to work.
6. Do important tasks in solitude
If you work from home and have other people around you, do your most essential tasks alone in a quiet room. Personally, I enjoy having other people around me when doing everyday tasks, but I need my focus and calm to get the essential things done.
Some people think working from home is more distracting than an office, but I used to work in an open-plan office where I could hear other people’s conversations, phone calls, and meetings all day long. That taught me to go to another room or listen to music to block out distractions when I need to focus.
7. Track your time
If you’re having a hard time being productive at home (or in general), try using a time-tracking tool to track your time. Tracking my time has helped me identify when I spend too much time on useless tasks.
My personal distractions include dancing in the living room, watching the birds outside my window, and tidying my closets (hello, Marie Kondo!)
When I note the time how long these things take, I can see how much they take away from my work time. Recording your time can open your eyes to your procrastination habits. An added bonus is that it can encourage you to be MORE productive because you feel like a clock is watching you.
8. Change your environment
Some people can only work from their desks, but I am not one of those people. I have to change surroundings to keep myself motivated and inspired.
Although I have a permanent desk in my apartment, I also work from the couch, the kitchen table, standing on the kitchen island, and (outrageously) from the airport lounges because I don’t procrastinate when people are around.
The point is variety keeps things exciting, and working from home gives you the luxury of doing it. You can try different lineups to increase productivity, even in small spaces.
9. Pay attention to your eating habits
Eat your lunch regularly and try to take your meals outside of work. I have also found it very helpful to have meals prepared in advance. Even though I can cook my lunch at home, I don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking when I have lunch. Preparing something in advance makes life a lot easier.
And let’s not forget the snacks. It’s really tempting to snack all day when you have access to the pantry, but try to stick to a snack schedule if that’s something you’re struggling with. For example, I almost always take a break at 3 p.m. for a snack.
BONUS TIP: 10. Remember to take breaks
If you don’t have a designated lunch break, sitting at your desk for 8 hours is easy. Try to work in 30–50 minute increments and then take a break afterward. Get outside in the fresh air. Do some quick stretches. Get up and take a walk. Text or call someone if you feel isolated from others.
You don’t want your homeworker life to burn you out, so make it a priority to take regular breaks.
Final thoughts
To be productive from home, one of the most important things is to build structure and get your day in order. You have a clear schedule and a to-do list when you are in the office and not working from home. But when you work from home, you may be tempted to decide things from moment to moment. Stay focused by using structure in everything you do.