Working from home (WFH) is fast becoming the norm around the world. In fact, there are now 3 times more remote jobs compared to back in 2020 before the pandemic. Now, working from home might not come naturally for you, especially if you are transitioning from the traditional workplace. You will have to deal with distractions which can reduce your productivity. Well, here are some of the hacks that will help you stay on track while working from home.
Have an Area Designated for Work
If working from home is long-term for you, it would be best to start by designating a nice area for work. It could be a guest room or a converted garage. Choose a location that best works for you and enables you to be most productive. Preferably, it should have a door to avoid possible distractions from pets, children, or other house occupants. Better even, find a space that has a window. The rays of sunlight will help you boost your mood and improve productivity. Avoid working from areas reserved for relaxation, like the bed or the couch. It can affect your productivity plus it can trigger health problems in the long run.
Optimize your Working Space
According to one research by OfficeMax, clutter reduces productivity and negatively affects mind state and motivation. A clutter-free, well-organized, and precise space is paramount for productivity. Then optimize your space by including all the necessary tools in place. Have a working desk or table of the right height and a comfortable chair that gives your good back support.
You can add an air conditioner or air filtering plants to ensure the temperature and air around the office are conducive for you. Instead, have a bottle of water in your office to keep you hydrated as you work.
Tip: Avoid keeping snacks and refrigerators within an easy reach. They could distract you and they are also bad for your health.
Improve the Efficiency of your Work Equipment
You will likely use common WFH gadgets like computers. Remember, if your core gadget and equipment do not perform to the best of its capacity, this can affect your productivity. In this regard, you should learn how to troubleshoot computers using resources online. For instance, you can fix common errors like startup errors, internet connection errors, unresponsive apps, download and installation issues like the following disk images couldn’t be opened and so on. This will certainly make your work easier and save time. It is good to test your equipment frequently to ensure that it is working efficiently.
Tip: Don’t forget to back up your key files periodically. You don’t want to lose your key projects!
Set Ground Rules & Create a Schedule
Setting some ground for yourself will help you be disciplined and avoid procrastination, making you more productive. Ground rules for those around you will help prevent distractions. Moreover, you’ll free up mental space and reduce stress.
You should also create a good work schedule. This will help you separate your work and personal time. You could perhaps do some self-introspection and identify the times of the day you are most productive. Of course, this might be tied to your work schedule if you are employed in a remote model. In this case, develop a schedule based on their business hours. Then build a work schedule that will help you get more work done faster. Again, keep in mind that you should strike a work-life balance to avoid overworking.
Wrapping up
Wrapping upIn a nutshell, you need the right mindset, and tools to reap the benefits of working from home either as a freelancer or full-time employee. Craft a good routine, create a nice workspace and leverage on tech to help you boost productivity and work-life balance.