Working from home is a dream for many, but doesn’t come without its share of of problems. While it certainly beats a commute, working from home can sometimes feel lonely and make it hard to focus. Whether you’re working from home full time or just the occasional telecommuting day, learning how to do so effectively is going to be essential to getting your job done. Take a look at our top 3 tips for working from home and still getting work done.
Stick To a Schedule
The single most important thing to keep in mind when working from home is that it’s not a free for all. It can sometimes be tempting to wake up late, do some cleaning, or get in one more episode of your favorite show. While this sounds great, it can quickly sap your productivity and lead to missed deadlines.
Having, and more importantly, sticking to a set schedule is just as important as if you were going into the office everyday. a good schedule helps get you motivated, but also subconsciously cues you into work mode. This “mindset” is important for a lot people, and not being able to get into work is a big issues for those working from home.
There isn’t a catch all here, what works for some might not work for others. Some people like to get up and dress as if they were headed into the office. Others like to comfortably role out of bed and get to work. Take a few weeks to hammer out a schedule and see what works for you. Then, do your best to stick to it. Developing this habit is key, so try to work in some cues like getting your morning coffee that signals it’s time to work.
The important thing is that you’re able to get into your work zone and really focus while you’re at home.
Setup a Dedicated Workspace
Another good way to remain productive when working from home is to create a dedicated work space. This is a good way to separate work from leisure, and help create that “work mood” which is very important to a lot of people.
Setting up a workspace doesn’t have to be hard, or take up a lot of space. For those with the room, having a full office and desk is a great option. Having a permanent station to go to each day is a great way to get into the work mode and certainly saves you the hassle of setting up your workspace each day.
For those with less room, simply setting up a folding table or clearing off a coffee table can suffice. The key is not the amount of space, but just having a clear and defined work space. It’s also important to make sure the chosen space is free of distractions. This can mean turning off the tv, leaving the tablet in another room, and moving whatever else is a distraction for you. The further away from these distractions you are the better. Take note of what draws you away from work and endeavor to remove these items from your workspace.
Stay Connected
One of the biggest drags of working from, and probably the main objection, is that it can get lonely. When you’re working from home it’s all you, and you miss out on the important aspect of socializing with co-works. That’s why, when working from home, always make sure to keep lines of communication open.
Whatever chat program your team uses stay active and online during the normal business hours. Keep your phone close by and ready to take any calls if your work involves that kind of thing. It takes a bit of extra effort to connect with your co-works, but it’s well worth it.
If it’s an option, still try to make some face time with your team. Even visiting a few times each month is great to help foster team-building. It also can help get face time with your manager, which can also be a concern when working from home.
This is really a big step as it encompasses a bit of both points above and can really help many people focus. Having that communication with your co-workers helps keep you in work mode, and that can be a powerful tool in resisting distractions. It’s more difficult to get distracted when you’re plugged in and focused as a team.
Working from home can be great, but it’s important to treat it like real work. So many people fall into the trap of relaxing too much and working too little. Hopefully these quick tips have given you some ideas on how to be more effective next time you get to work from home! Working from home doesn’t have to be a productivity loss, with a little effort most people can be just as if not more productive at home as they are in the office.