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How to get the most out of working from home

Manage your time, steer clear of social media and set deadlines 

5 minutes

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Have trouble concentrating when you work from home? Between the kettle, the fridge and the pull of social media, it's easy to get distracted.

  • Treat it like a normal job and set a morning routine
  • Make sure you have a dedicated work area to avoid distractions
  • Remember to take regular breaks away from your work space

Don't forget to schedule in a coffee break (or two!)

For those of us who are working from home right now, it can be hard to stay on track. Here are some handy tips for ways to help you stay motivated. 



Treat working from home like any normal job

Set a reasonable alarm, get up, shower, brush your teeth, get dressed, and, if you can, get some fresh air.

It's easy to stay in bed and work on your laptop in your pyjamas, but it'll rarely give you the get-up-and-go you'll need to nail your to-do list.



Set strict working hours

Plan to start work promptly, take a proper lunch break, and shut down the computer at he end of your working day. Try to stick to your working hours - you won't stay motivated or productive if you work long hours every day.



Create a good workspace

Carve out somewhere peaceful with no distractions. A dedicated work area can help make you more productive, and, when work is done, you can leave the space and return to home and family life. 

Not only should your desk be somewhere quiet, it should also be clean and organised - mess or clutter can make you feel flustered.

It's worth mentioning any expensive office equipment to your home insurance company. While some policies cover items like computers, laptops and printers as standard, it's not always the case, so make sure your contents are covered. 



Plan your day and create some lists

Write down all your projects and tasks in priority order.  Plus, who doesn't love crossing things off a list at the end of the day? 



Set yourself deadlines

Easily distracted by household chores and Netflix? Deadlines are an absolute must. Set them and stick to them. 

As for rewards, there's nothing wrong with interspersing your day with downtime (perhaps a quick walk or home workout) – it'll help keep you motivated and on track.



Limit social media

Refreshing your Twitter or Facebook feed every two minutes? When it's work time, try to restrict your social media usage. Turn off all social media notifications and remove them from your desktop - it's an easy way to stay focussed. 

If you can work without WIFI, try turning it off while you work. If not, check out clever new apps like Forest, which helps you curb time spent on your phone and grows trees as a reward. 


You can still socialise

The biggest downside to working from home is the lack of office atmosphere – including someone offering to make you a cuppa! 

Factor in calls with clients instead of just emails and maybe schedule a video conference with your team.

So that's it!

Set deadlines, create a routine and remember to have fun. We hope these tips will help you be more productive, have a better work-life balance and make working from home an absolute pleasure.

For more on how to master working from home, check out these other useful tips.

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All content is approved by our in-house advisory board of experts.