Working From Home Has It’s Challenges, but It Also Has Some Comforts
The comfort of working from home will hold you back from doing your job. When you are working from home, you need to remind yourself that you are working and accountable to your employer.
The secret to working from home is to remove the word home. What I mean is that you need to focus on getting your work done. If you do not create a dedicated space to work in your home, you will start slacking and become distracted.
It took me a few weeks of working from home to figure things out and change my bad habits.
These Are the 5 Things I Do Everyday to Ensure I Am Productive
Dedicated Work Space
I have set up a dedicated work space with no distraction. The desk is clutter free, and I only have my computer and necessary tools at my desk. Creating a dedicated work space has made more productive, and I find that I make less mistakes. Keeping the work space clean and tidy helps me focus on my work. I make sure that I never bring food or drinks near my desk. If I spill a coffee or a liquid on my computer, it would take time to get a replacement computer. It would create a situation where I could not work from home. I respect that my employer has given me the tools to work from home, and I will take care of these tools. Having a well organized space to work, helps me focus on my projects.
Follow a Routine
At the start of the day I begin with a healthy breakfast, before heading to my desk. I want to make sure I am not thirsty or hungry and that I can focus on getting work done. While I am having breakfast I check my email and the news. During the day I limit my personal internet usage. During my breaks I might look at email and social media posts on my phone. Limiting my personal web access is necessary or I would easily be distracted with social media timelines. I snack during my breaks which provides a better balance than having snacks at my desk. I found that when I was bored with my work, snacking was an excuse to stop working. It was also contributing to my weight gain. Having scheduled breaks provides the needed balance between work and refreshing your mind. Every hour I stand and stretch for a few minutes. My employer has not provided me with a Herman Miller chair, so getting up is the next best thing to avoid having back pain.
To Do List
My day consists of working on various projects that have deadlines. In order for me to complete these projects on time, I keep a simple to do list notebook at my desk. Every-time I get a new request it’s add to the list. Everything work related goes into the notebook, my brain already has enough stuff floating around, and I don’t need to add more stuff. Throughout the day I review the items on my to do list, and work through the list. Having a to do list helps keep track of projects and tasks. It helps me make sure that I do not miss anything, and that I can check off the tasks that are completed. I have used an online to do list and apps, but I still prefer the good old fashion notebook. There is a satisfying feeling of taking pencil to paper.
Email Flow
I hate emails with a passion, but I will leave that for another article. When it comes to managing emails I have years of experience. The email is either super important and needs my attention or it goes into hold mode. When it is an email that requires my attention I deal with it right away. As soon as the email is answered I might add a note into my notebook, for follow up or to remind me of some action that needs to be taken. The less important emails that do not require an immediate response, are flagged in blue in Outlook to remind me I need to respond to those emails. As I complete the requests I archive emails. There are some emails that I save as proof that action was taken. Those emails are saved as a copy on my hard drive. It is a good idea to save a permanent backup copy of emails that you might need at later date. Always keep proper records for when you need proof you did something. My work emails are kept on the server for 90 days after that they are gone. That is the main reason I make sure to backup emails.
Health
It’s important to develop a health routine when working from home. Sitting in a chair all day, and snacking is a trap many of us fall into when working from home. It is so easy to go grab a snack and not pay attention to what we are eating. I have a coffee addiction and working from home made it even worse. When I am working on a project that I am stuck on, my excuse is making coffee. Instead of making coffee I am standing and stretch when I need a break. There are a few unscheduled breaks that I take throughout the day based on how I am feeling. Your health is not just the foods you eat, it’s also exercise and mental health.
These steps have increased my productivity and concentration. With so many distractions you need to adjust to working from home. Having a routine and creating a dedicated work environment will make you more productive. When you feel productive you are able to focus. Working from home sure beats the commute to the office, but you need to prove to your employer that you are worthy of their trust.
