Top tips for staying productive when you’re working from home
Working from home is becoming increasingly popular, as more and more of us take advantage of flexible working policies, starting up our own businesses, or choosing remote working roles. The advantages are clear: no commute time, no one coming up to your desk to distract you, plus you can stay in your PJs all day if that’s your gig. So if you can work from home, why wouldn’t you? It seems ideal. Well, the reality, as I’m sure a lot of you will know, can be quite different. Either the lure of Netflix/the cat/the pile of washing pulls you away from your work priorities and you’re woefully less productive than you’d envisaged, or conversely you open your laptop at 7am and literally don’t look away from it until 7pm. Even though you barely moved from your chair and definitely didn’t have a shower, never mind brush your teeth, you still feel like you only scratched the surface of your to do list. Working from home can be a double-edged sword, so here’s my survival guide to help you get the most out of it. I’m going to break it down into a 5-point list, mostly because I just love a good list.
Planning
Plan the hours you are going to work and the breaks you are going to take. This is so important. When you go into the office you have a predictable shape to your day; you travel to work at a similar time, you chat to your colleagues throughout your day, you make tea or coffee, pop out to get lunch and probably travel home at a similar time. Even if you work long hours, at some point you do actually leave the office, which means you stop working. The danger with working from home when you’re particularly busy is that there’s no reason to stop, to down tools, to give your brain a rest. This is why setting the intention to do a certain number of hours and take breaks at particular times is crucial. After all, your brain is not a computer. It is a living thing and sometimes it needs a rest! It also needs rewards, so make sure you have something nice in the fridge for lunch, or promise yourself to get something delicious from a local cafe. Also, invest in a decent coffee machine if you can. There’s nothing quite like being able to pop downstairs to your kitchen and make your own Flat White.
Distractions
Try to minimise distractions, but acknowledge that they exist. If you feel the pull of the cat/the piles of washing/Netflix is too strong, allow yourself some minutes in your day for it. Maybe you could watch an episode of your favourite show during your planned lunch break? Maybe you could use your planned morning/tea break to put the washing on. You could find the time away from your desk and the sense of accomplishment beneficial, but stick to your allocated minutes. Be careful not to disappear down the “I’ll just quickly do this” wormhole, because before you know it you might have a sparkly clean bathroom, but that list of emails has not written itself.
Workspace
Set up a dedicated workspace. I recently asked a group of business owners whether they “go to work” despite being based at home, and received a resounding “YES” in response. I took this advice on board and almost instantly felt the benefits. The kitchen table might be closest to the kettle and the sofa may be deliciously comfortable, but both of these spaces are sneaky gateways to distraction. Creating a dedicated space that is comfortable, distraction-free and makes you feel motivated says to your brain “Let’s get some stuff done!” On a side note, try to invest in a decent office chair to support your back, or consider a stand-up desk, which could be a great solution if you’re short on space.
Get dressed
Don’t lie in too long and don’t stay in your PJs. I know, I know, I’m such a killjoy. Trust me though, neither one of these will do you a lot of good. If you want a lie in (and you don’t have small human beings/cats/dogs in your house that are likely to wake you up at the normal time anyway!), treat yourself to an extra 30 minutes and be happy with that. All the evidence says that going to bed and waking at similar times is better for you and your circadian rhythms anyway. Once you’re up, go about your morning in the usual way. Make sure you have a shower and get dressed. If you’re missing your PJs, just throw on some tracksuit bottoms. You can still treat yourself to a more comfortable outfit than an average day at the office, but at least if you need to leave the house you can do so at a moment’s notice. Let’s face it, you were probably going to have a shower at some point, so why not tick it off nice and early? So, it’s now the time that you would usually leave for work and guess what? You’re ready to start your day earlier than usual. You can either use those precious reclaimed minutes to crank up the laptop and get a head start on that pile of emails, or you could go for a walk around the block to get some fresh air before you start, or even spend a few minutes reading or listening to a podcast. The point is, instead of that reclaimed commute time disappearing, you’re consciously using it to make your day just a bit more pleasant. Try it, I promise you’ll like it!
Go outside
Get out of the house! I’m aware this is counter-intuitive, but there is a kind of science to it. Firstly, fresh air is good for you, as is getting your heart rate up. A brisk walk around the block, popping to a local gym for half an hour, or going for a 20 minute run during your allocated lunch break will clear your head and help boost your motivation for the rest of the working day. It will also aid your overall sense of accomplishment. Another option to consider is working in a local cafe, library or shared working space. Much as working on your own at home can be a lot more productive, it can equally feel isolating at times, especially if you find yourself stuck on a task or project. Getting out and changing your working environment can often get the old brain cogs back in gear and spark a bit of inspiration. Plus, if it’s a cafe, you can get someone to make your lunch for you!
Good luck and happy WFHing everyone!