Business
How to Be Productive at Homework
We can safely say that 2021 was not the year we anticipated. We are still dealing with uncertainty in the year 2022. The schedule remains consistent as we strive to make the most of the winter and summer months. The impacts of the financial crisis are still being felt by some of us. Others will continue to work from home as we acclimate to the new schedule.
Still, others have opened their doors, albeit with certain restrictions. Still, others continue to work from home and deal with the distractions of other family members, our pets, our children, our partners, our roommates, and even the daily needs of the home. Balancing all of these and work is challenging.
Learn how to be effective when working from home and keep track of all that needs to be done.
- Establish a designated work area.
- Keep away the clutter.
- Keep a schedule
- Get outside for a while
- Keep in touch
- Disconnect at the end of the day
Just as you have a desk, a cubicle, or an office at work, you should have a designated place in your home that you go to every day to do your job. That should be your home base, central location, and the 0.0 on a chart.
By working in the same place every day, the brain will know it is time to work. Working in different areas can distract us and make it hard for our brains to concentrate on the task at hand.
When you are in your designated workspace, your brain will recognize that it is time to work and help you focus much better on your worklist.
Household chores and other to-do list items. This goes hand in hand with having a designated workspace.
Make sure that the place is clean and tidy. Clutter in your home and other tasks outside of work can only negatively detract from your mindset.
The organization is key to being able to stay focused during work. All those cluttered pieces in your workspace can completely divert your attention.
Naturally, you'll be able to arrange things that help with your work or allusive images that bring back fun memories and make you happy. This can only boost your mood and productivity levels. But avoid over-stimulation.
Working from home is easier if you establish routines. Including your workspace and the time you spend working. This also helps your mindset that from 9 to 5, it's time to work. Of course, you will have distractions and time away from your desk both at home and in the office. But having a set schedule can help you get more done during the day and disconnect at the end of the day.
I realize this can be more difficult for some, especially if you have young children in the family. You may have to set aside some time to put the baby down for a nap or run an errand in the afternoon. But, as much as possible, having those set hours can help make a big difference in your mental well-being while working from home. But if you have these outside needs, that's okay! Make sure your employer is aware of this and offers you some flexibility.
On the other hand, if you're an employer with workers who have children at home, recognize that some flexibility may be necessary. You will get more out of your employees if you are flexible and understand their needs.
The advantage of being at home is a little more flexibility in your environment. The problem with most office buildings is that there is not a lot of green space. There is no chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors.
Many studies have shown that the benefits of going outside for a few minutes a day improve mood and mental well-being. If you work from home, take advantage of this, and try to get out for a few minutes every day.
Of course, this depends on your location and the time of year. But it can be incredibly therapeutic to take a quick break in the middle of the day.
No matter how introverted you are, some human interaction is helpful during your workday. Even if you're isolated from the coworkers and teammates, you usually spend the day with, keep in touch.
Many teams have created virtual moments to refresh, allowing you to socialize again with coworkers and friends. Not everyone likes webcam meetings, but if people are comfortable, hold camera meetings! Seeing the people, you're meeting with, rather than just hearing their voices, can do wonders for productivity.
Contact family and friends. Make friends with your coworkers. Make friends with your neighbors. Being connected can help you work more efficiently.
At the end of the day, log off. Don't come back later to check your email or respond to questions and texts. It's important to set boundaries in your work environment, especially when you work from home.
Most employers don't expect you to come back to the office to get something done at 10 p.m. Just because you can log on at that time doesn't mean you should. Set those boundaries with your family, your employer, your co-workers, and the people you are in contact with to have the most productive day possible, both during and outside of work hours.
