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If you are new to working from home, it might shock you to learn how hard it actually is to get work done. There are so many distractions. That pile of dishes, or that couch that looks extra comfy when you have a huge pile of work on your plate. Don't you just want to relax and watch TV all day? (No wonder that electricity usage goes up.)
However, there are a few things you can do to stay productive, and even thrive, when working from home.
Set A Schedule
"There's no set time to get into the office! I can start work whenever!"
This thought will cross your mind when you start working from home. But if you're not careful, it is also the easiest way to get off track.
All of a sudden, you don't get to work until 3 PM. You have to stay up late to get your work done. Your sleeping schedule is disrupted, causing you to be less effective and get further behind on work.
It can go in the opposite direction too. When you work from home, and there's no designated stop/start time, you may just work all the time. You may be okay for a while, but you are playing with fire. Nonstop work can cause burnout, leaving you stressed, tired and unhappy with your work.
Setting a schedule will help you separate your work life from your home life, increase your efficiency and keep you happy and healthy when working from home.
Set Up A Working Space
Setting a home workspace is another step towards separating your work life from your home life. Not everyone can have a home office, but that's not what you really need.
All you need is a place to do your work and only your work. Over time, this spot will help shift your mind into "work mode" and you'll get more done.
Avoid Distractions
Setting up a schedule and a solid workspace is a good start, but other distractions are bound to come up when working from home.
If the distraction is something going on around you, like kids blasting the TV in the living room or construction right outside your door, noise-canceling headphones are the way to go.
However, there are other distractions too. Only you know your weak spots, so you need to find out how to limit them yourself.
If social media is your distraction, use social media timers on your phone. Most phones have this feature incorporated into the software. There are also browser extensions that will block sites during your work hours.
If you get distracted by work around the house, set a designated time that you do that housework.
Figure out what your distractions are and find a way to make it harder to be distracted by. As much as you would like your willpower to be enough, a lot of times it is just not.
If working from home is hard for you, do these three things. Over time, it will get easier. Eventually, you may even start to like it. Cause nobody likes commutes.
