How to be productive when working at home
This pandemic has really shaken up our lives. Many have lost their jobs, had to move back home from school, have struggled with mental health since being isolated, and so much more. Now, there HAS been a lot of healing in the world too and maybe that’s what we should be focusing on.
At large, the world is cleaner and less polluted. The earth is healing and we’ve all had time to be with family or to look within ourselves for answers. Self-love and care have become a movement and people have come back to simple truths and joys.
All in all, it’s been a weird shift from what was natural. But that’s a post for another day.
Today, I want to offer my best tips to be productive when working from home.
(Disclaimer: All of the views and opinions in this post are solely my own and are not sponsored. This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission through links at no cost to you.)
- Create a special/separate workspace
This is the most important and useful tip in this whole post. Separate your work space from your living space. If you have a desk, use it! Face it away from your living space so you won’t be tempted to go to the couch or the bed!
I find that sitting near a window helps a ton and increases productivity. We are naturally happier when in the presence of sunlight or the green outdoors. If you live in a city, put a house plant near your desk to increase happiness. It makes a difference!
(Also! Check out my post on Desk-Must-haves! It’s extremely useful for stay at home workers!)
You want to make sure your desk is dedicated to work only. If you’re using a kitchen table or something similar, move the chair so you’re sitting in an unusual way than how you normally do. Our brains associate spaces with what we do. That’s why it’s super unhealthy to work in your bed!
And if you HAVE to work in your bed, sit horizontally or in a different position. It adds to the separation effect!
- Keep it clean!
I cannot work in a cluttered space. I find it super hard to focus if my desk is a mess. Not only that, but it makes organizing my work tasks harder because my work ethic tends to match my environment.
My boyfriend has a messy desk and it really reflects in his at home work. Don’t be like him!
Beyond desk clutter, be sure to keep your planners, agendas, journals, and to-do lists organized and in check. Even your computer tabs can act as clutter. Clutter is a mental state, really. It’s best to try to purge and be organized as often as you can.
This also includes the rest of your house! The tidier your home is, the easier it’ll be to work in it.
- Make a to-do list EVERY MORNING
Okay, if you’ve been on my blog awhile, you probably know me and my to-do lists. I’m obsessed. I can’t help it! But the best feeling in the world is checking off items on a to-do list so by the end of the day, you feel fulfilled.
When it comes to working at home, making a to-do list before you begin any other work can really set a mood for the day. You can prioritize your list however you see fit and it gives you a semblance of a task list or timetable just as you would have in a work environment.
Your to-do list is there to keep you on track and to give you something to feel accomplished by. It’s also nice to sort out all of the messy thoughts in your head!
- Take a fifteen minute break every 2 hours
I have seen so many people just trying to power through their at home workday without proper breaks. That’s insane! Not only is it exhausting in the moment, but over time, this can quickly lead to burnout!
I truly recommend trying to maintain a sense of work familiarity by implementing breaks every so often. My current job (outside of blogging) requires we take a fifteen minute break every two hours and a meal before our sixth hour. When working from home, I try to model this sentiment.
After two to three hours of work, I get up, stretch, and step away from the computer and desk in general. I like to stand for that entire fifteen minutes, maybe do some calming yoga or something to get the blood flowing.
Sitting all day is really bad for your health.
- Don’t forget your lunch break!
Unlike my current job, I tend to take an hour long lunch break when working at home. If your job allows this, I find it’s super useful! It gives your mind a break (and your eyes!) and you can do whatever you want in this hour. You can eat, nap, go for a walk, exercise, call up a friend, chat with your housemates, read, or indulge in a small tv show.
I really enjoy my hour break. I typically take mine during the same allotment of time that my boyfriend takes his. He comes home on his lunches and we’ll talk and eat together or perhaps read or do things separately. Either way, it’s a nice break from work.
- Turn off your phone (or turn off social media app notifications)
I’m not going to lie, this one is really hard for me. I am on my phone A TON when it comes to my at home work. I’ve found that going to my settings and turning off social media notifications, however, has really changed the game for me.
Being updated constantly on social media impedes my focus. But I can’t turn off my phone because I need it for phone calls, emails, references, etc. If your job is like that too, I do recommend turning off notifications before work or even the night before if you get up early!
- Stay hydrated!
This is one of my hardest struggles during “stay at home.” I never thought hydration would be an issue. Sitting around all day tricks me into thinking “I’m not physically active or worn out, therefore, I’m not thirsty.” Big oof!
Now, I actually fill up my reusable bottle and set it beside my work space to increase my water intake. Having it next to me encourages me to drink it. I’m not sure why, but this works wonders for me. Each time it empties, I take a small break to refill it which encourages movement and stretching!
Some people might tell you to keep snacks by your desk so you don’t have to leave your work to eat. I HIGHLY discourage this!
- Don’t bring a ton of snacks!
Do NOT keep snacks at your desk. This is the number one cause of weight gain for stay at home and/or desk workers. You might think it’s convenient, but it’s a trap.
Try to preserve snacking for your fifteen minute breaks and meal time (that’s why we have breaks!). Only keep water at your desk. This will keep you from boredom eating and will keep you healthier in the long run. I promise.
- Make realistic goals!
This is another hard one for me. I love to crowd my day with a ton of tasks. The problem is that too many are unrealistic and can be overwhelming. Furthermore, I know I’ll feel defeated by the end of the day if I don’t accomplish all of them.
The best solution is to write down how long you think it will take to complete a task. Then, schedule priority tasks first. Eventually, you’ll have your time filled with tasks by time blocks and whatever is left will have to wait for another day.
Doing this can help bring practicality into your work schedule and will prevent discouragement (which is a huge instigator of procrastination!).
If you like this post, check out some similar posts of mine below:
Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know your tips for working at home!
You can also email me with questions or concerns you may have at info.amelia.wilson@gmail.com
Also, check out my poetry book, The Lights are on but Nobody’s Home, available now on amazon for $6.99!
Disclaimer: All of the views and opinions in this post are solely my own and are not sponsored. This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission through links at no cost to you.
Thanks again