Working from home can be a challenge for many people. Distractions are abundant, and the lack of accountability can lead to unproductive habits. However, being efficient while working from home is not impossible. Whether you work from home full-time, a few days a week, or on occasion, the tips below can help you get the most out of your remote working hours.

Create a Dedicated Workspace

As tempting as it may be to work from your bed or sofa, it's crucial to have a designated workspace that can help you focus on your work. If possible, set up a home office in a separate room. If you don't have that luxury, dedicate a consistent table or desk space for your work. Having a supportive chair, a spacious desk, and other essential work tools can help tell your brain that it's time for work rather than relaxation. This will help you feel more alert and organized, which is essential for productivity.

Set Regular Work Hours

Setting regular business hours when working from home is crucial for productivity. Giving yourself complete flexibility on when to start, take breaks or finish for the day can result in a lack of accountability. Establishing consistent hours will hold you accountable to yourself, your colleagues, and your managers. This helps you get your work done, and it ensures that people can get in touch with you when necessary.

Get Dressed

Before starting work for the day, go through your usual morning routine as if you were going into the office. Get up, shower, dress, have breakfast, brush your teeth, and do everything else you would typically do to get ready for the day. This will signal to your brain and body that it's time to work, not relax. While it might be tempting to stay in your pyjamas or throw on some comfortable clothes, doing so can leave you feeling lethargic and unmotivated, which is never ideal for productivity.

Establish Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life

For some people who work from home, it's hard to switch off at the end of the day, leading to working too many hours. Unlike in an office environment, there are no clear signals that it's time to finish the working day. To avoid this, plan when you will finish your day and stick to it. Turn off your computer, tidy up your workspace, switch off your work phone, and close your office door. Establishing these boundaries can help ensure you have a healthy work-life balance.

Plan Your Day

Planning your workday is essential for maintaining productivity while working from home. Before starting, make sure you know what your priorities are, how long they will take, and what you will work on if you have any extra time. Having a plan can help you stay focused and on track, which is crucial for staying productive.

Take Breaks

Taking breaks throughout the day is essential for maintaining productivity. But it's also essential to plan the duration of these breaks to avoid getting distracted. Get up from your desk, take a walk, get some fresh air, grab a healthy snack, or talk to a human being if possible. This can help get your blood flowing and reset your mind before getting back to your to-do list.

No Visitors

Being productive while working from home requires boundaries. You need to set boundaries for your children, partner, housemates, and even pets. Encourage them to leave you in peace during your planned working hours so that you can remain focused.

Keep Your Workspace Clean

Unlike when you work in an office environment, there are no cleaners to tidy up after you. It is down to you to keep your home office clean and tidy. Doing this will help you to stay focussed, organised and productive. Even if the mess doesn’t bother you, keeping your workspace tidy will help you to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks.

Audio inspiration

Whether you are inspired by listening to a podcast, audiobook, heavy metal or instrumental music, working from home means that you can crank up the volume as much as you like without distracting your co-workers!

Stay in touch

Working in an office provides you with multiple opportunities to catch up with colleagues for business collaborations as well as for pleasure. Make sure that you don’t lose this as a home worker. Try to put some time aside each week to catch up with colleagues and talk on a personal level, not just about business.

If you can master these 10 tips then you will be a work-from-home maestro in no time at all, and you may even find that the days that you work from home are the most productive!”