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2020's pandemic changed the world. Many companies have learned that employees are just as productive (if not more so) while working from home as they were while physically working in the office. Because of this, many employers have decided to continue letting their staff work from home, while others are adopting a hybrid model.
Some employers are even letting their staff work from home indefinitely—which has led to some people deciding to move to different states without switching jobs! (Always dreamt of living in Hawaii? Pull up your browser and visit https://hawaiitrustedrealty.com/ to find some attractive real-estate offers!)
Regardless of your specific reasons for working from home, one thing is clear: it's important to be productive. That's why we have collected the top 12 tips for effectively working from home.
With these WFH tips, you can create a productive workflow and get rid of the factors that constantly distract you. Remote work can be productive and even more effective than from the office if you put in the effort.
Tip 1 — Create a Comfortable Workplace
If you think that working lying on the couch is more convenient, then you are mistaken. This method reduces productivity and negatively affects your body — your back starts to hurt, your arms numb, and neck or back pain appears. All these factors will negatively affect the improvement of your workflow in any way.
Therefore, equip your workplace and make it comfortable and convenient, there should not be any distractions near your workplace. Keep in mind that the working TV in the background will only interfere with the process of effective work. A comfortable chair and a desktop with everything you need will be great helpers for working from home.
For many, for high-quality and productive work, music in the background helps. Make a playlist that inspires you and let it play in the background. This will help you get in the mood for work and will not give you a place of boredom. If you have distractions in the background, you can use headphones or earplugs if you need complete silence.
Tip 2 — Say No to Pajamas!
Pajamas may be more comfortable to work in, but still, this type of clothing is not suitable for organizing work from home. Wear more official outfits, like the ones you might wear to the office. This will give you a solid work ethic. If you're in the mood for productive remote work, forget the pajamas and dress for success instead.
Tip 3 — Make a Work Schedule and Stick to It
If your working day at the office used to start at 9 a.m., then you should continue to start at 9 a.m. After all, working at the same pace with your colleagues will also have a positive effect on your overall productivity.
If your work day is not tied to hours, start working in the morning anyway. All important tasks must be completed at this time if you want to simplify your schedule.
At the beginning of the day, make a schedule for the day, what needs to be done first, and what tasks are secondary. Record your tasks, and also set reminders so as not to miss anything. When you're organized, you will be able to complete essential tasks on time and you'll be less likely to forget anything.
Tip 4 — Determine the Main Channels of Communication with Colleagues
In this way, you can always be in touch. Install the necessary operating software on your smartphone or tablet. This will help you stay online even if you don't have an Internet connection at home or have problems with your PC.
Tip 5 — Say No to Distractions
To do this, you will be helped by special programs that can track the time spent in front of a PC and the progress of the tasks that you have completed. If you follow this advice, then no series in the next tab will be able to distract you on the way to completing the task. In addition to the TV, additional tabs with social networks, the latest news, and series, other factors, of course, can be distracting, for example, children. So, the next point is for you.
Tip 6 — Coordinate Your Work Schedule with Your Children
This rule does not apply if your child is still small. In this case, you can forget about a specific schedule. You will need to adjust and complete your tasks during “quiet time”. Another option is to hire someone who will be able to help you with kids when you need to work and concentrate on the tasks.
But if your children are already schoolers, then you should definitely talk with them and discuss your work schedule. Also, during breaks, you can devote your time to your family, for example, playing exciting games or watching family movies. This will do you good, and your children will know exactly when you have free time for joint leisure.
Another simple tip is to close the door. If the door to the room where you work is open, it means for your family that they can come in and chat. Therefore, take care of complete isolation if you need to focus on work.
Tip 7 — Take Regular Breaks
Taking regular short breaks will help you recuperate quickly. During a break, it is better to switch to another type of activity. For example, exercise, cooking lunch, or walking outside. Take breaks like this will help you complete tasks faster and more productively. In order not to forget about breaks, set yourself reminders. They are really effective, especially if you are so submerged in the work process and forget to get up every hour for a short break.
Tip 8 — Give Yourself a Pleasant Gift
You have more time, no need to get to the office, so please yourself. For example, sleep longer, cook something tasty, something that you have had no time for before. In addition, you can meditate or read a book that you have long wanted to read. Treat yourself to pleasant emotions to distract from all the surrounding negativity. This will positively affect your well-being and your pastime will become more productive.
Tip 9 — Go in for Sports
Physical activity is very important, especially if you work from home. Now you have the opportunity to get up every hour and do simple exercises, do morning exercises, and play sports even more actively in the evening. On the Internet, there are a lot of pieces of training for any level and taste. Therefore, working in this mode from home, you can even lose a few extra pounds if you are not lazy. In addition, it will have a very positive effect on your work schedule, which will help you be more productive.
Tip 10 — Foresee Time for a Lunch Break
Lunch should not be canceled. Even if you have started working from home, leave for lunch at a specific time. During lunch, you can not only eat to gain strength but also do a few things that distract from the main routine, for example, cleaning up.
Tip 11 — Know When to Say Stop to Yourself
Don't stay up late if your workday is over. Give yourself a break and move on to other things. The same applies to weekends. On weekends, you need to do other things, and not check work mail or instant messengers. Often the best results are obtained suddenly, and this requires a reboot, that is, a good rest.
Tip 12 — Return to the Office for a While
It might also turn out that you are so tired of remote work that you cannot cope with the challenges of distant work. In this case, we can recommend finding a co-working space in the vicinity of your home or renting an office for a while. In a while, you will understand which of the options is better for you. Probably, you are really too tired of remote work. Another possible outcome is that you will remember how tiring every-morning commuting is, and this will help you to improve the effectiveness of your work from home.
Final Notes
As you need to transition to remote work, don't despair. You can work efficiently and productively from home. All you need to do is remove distractions, equip your workplace, and understand that in this way, you can do even more. Then you will have additional time for yourself and your family.
This might also be complicated to implement all the tips at once. So, you can start gradually, choosing one of the most challenging problems and trying to eliminate it. Then, proceed to the next. Self-analysis and the desire to improve your habits are the prerequisites of success, regardless of the activity, be it work, sports, or other personal achievements. Good Luck!
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