Do you find yourself wanting to work from home, but you are worried you won’t have the motivation or determination to get any work done? Or it might be this is your first time without having to get in your car and commute to work, so you aren’t sure how to set a schedule and be productive.
On another note, you may be a working parent and need to figure out how to work with your kids around. Whatever your situation may be, I’m going to give you my top 5 tips to increase your productivity while working from home.
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1. Create Your Workspace
Before you can begin to think about working and being productive, you need to have a defined workspace. And I’m not talking about in bed, with your computer on your lap, I’m talking about a real workspace.
Somewhere where your partner, roommate, kids, whoever you might live with will know that you’re working when you are in that space.
It could be a spare bedroom that you set up into an office, a set spot at the kitchen table, in your basement, or outside on a patio table if you prefer to be outdoors.
Not only does this define your work area, but it also sets you up for success by having the mindset that this is your “workspace” and is not for surfing the web, watching Netflix, or ordering from Amazon- unless you’re getting paid to do those things, which would be pretty cool!
2. Make a Schedule
Setting your schedule will totally depend on you. Suppose you have kids at home and want to work while they are asleep or down for a nap, set your schedule around them. If you don’t have to work around kids, then figure out what works best for you and the type of work you are doing.
If you’re working as a freelance writer, write when you are the most alert and fresh.
You might be a remote worker whose boss wants you to work from home. In this situation, your work hours will depend on when your boss needs you.
If you’re working as a dog walker, of course, your schedule will depend on the dog’s owners and when they want you to walk their dogs.
You might choose to teach English online. Again, your schedule will depend on the country your student lives in, and you will have to take the time difference into account.
One of the most important things I’ve found is to be consistent with your schedule. Have a time when you are going to start work, and when you are going to end your workday, with plenty of breaks in between.
If you’re still finding it hard to get in the “work from home” mindset, get in your car, drive around the block or to your local coffee shop, and “commute” back home. Once you enter your house, head for your workspace, and get to work!
3. Let Others Know the Schedule
To limit distractions, you need to make it clear what your work schedule is. Let whoever you live with know that you cannot be disturbed when you are in your workspace during the hours you choose to work. Of course, if you have small children, that will be more of a challenge!
Like any other job, you need to take breaks. If I’m working on the computer, I like to take a short break every hour. I get up, move around, stretch, play with my dog, refill my water, prep dinner, or do whatever I need to do before I sit for another hour.
If you are working from home with family around, you can let them know that you’ll be taking a more extended break at lunchtime. That will give you a chance to step away from work and enjoy some family time.
4. Set Goals
If you have never worked from home before, it can seem daunting at first. Where do I start? How do I stay motivated? How can I juggle having a family around while I’m trying to work?
That’s where writing down your goals helps you stay focused. Some people call it a to-do list, but basically, you’re writing down what you want to accomplish each day. I suggest taking 10-15 minutes each morning and write down what you want to achieve. At the end of the day, if you haven’t done everything on your list, carry it over for tomorrow. Just be sure to make your list doable so as not to get discouraged.
5. Keep Notes
I’m a notebook kind of girl, while others like to use online tools to take notes. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but taking notes about your day and tracking your work hours will help you to become more productive.
In my notes, I write down what I am doing, and the time I start and stop that task. For example, if I’m editing a 5-page document for a client, I write down the time I start and when I finish or take a break. This helps me keep track of how many words an hour I am editing, and how much time I spent so I can bill my client.
You can also look back and see how long it took you to perform other tasks, write a 1,000-word blog, send out proposals, or the amount of time you spent on marketing your business.
This has come in handy in several instances for me. Some clients will ask you to quote a price for a job. I can look back at my notes and get a precise estimate of how long the job will take and how to price accordingly.
Conclusion
To increase your productivity working from home, start by creating a comfortable workspace with minimal distractions, set your work schedule and let others on board, make a list of your daily goals, and take excellent notes.
It’s simple once you get started. You will find that you can be much more productive working from home with these quick and easy tips.
If you’re still trying to figure out what type of business you want to start, check out my free guide, “ Financial Freedom: 50 Jobs You Can Start From Home Today,” for ideas on the many types of opportunities out there.
How have you increased productivity working from home? Please share in the comments below!
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