How to get the most out of working from home

For those (lucky people?) who work from home, whether it's just a couple of days a week or full time, it can be hard to stay on track. Here are some handy tips for way 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, go for a short stroll. 

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 at 9am, take a proper lunch break, and shut down your computer at 5pm. 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 a short exercise class) – 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. 

Don't forget to 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, work from a coffee shop for a few hours a week, or meet friends and family for lunch to help you stop feeling lonely and bored.

 

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.