Working from home can be difficult at first, especially if you are unprepared for it. You might not have a designated home office or conflicting family obligations. Although it may seem like you have to say goodbye to your productivity and focus, here are some tips on how to work from home even if the circumstances are not perfect.
Try working out
Although exercise may seem like a weird tip for productivity it is actually one of the best things that you can do. Physical activity is closely connected with our energy levels and alertness. A work out session in the morning can have a similar effect on your brain as a cup of coffee.
Apart from directly influencing your focus, working out can help with your mental health too. Your productivity may be suffering because of the stress and anxiety you feel during the pandemic so a good sweat can help you feel a little bit better.
You do not have to go overboard with the exercise and become a marathon runner or bodybuilder but adding a running session or a relaxing walk into your daily routine can help.
Keep a routine
Having a daily routine can really help you win the fight against distraction. Once the steps listed above become your daily habits, your brain will be better able to adjust to a routine and focus will come easily. There’s not much you can really add to your routine during lockdown so you basically have all the power over your to-do list.
If you are a fan of lists, try creating a daily list of tasks you need to accomplish and stick to it.
Include your family
Productivity when working from home definitely comes more easily to those living alone but it can be possible with a family. Although it seems an impossible task to balance your work and entertaining your restless child, with good communication almost anything is achievable.
If you are a parent, a perfect daily routine might be unattainable. You will need to be a bit more flexible. Talk to your partner about taking care of your children and even make a schedule. Your working conditions might not be optimal but with the global pandemic on the rise, your boss should be more understanding. After all, everyone is in a similar situation.
Set up a work space
If you do not have a lot of room in your home, you can still have a designated space where you work. Maybe it’s time to finally invest in that new desk. If that isn’t possible and you are working from the only free table or desk in the house, cleaning it and setting up your laptop and other necessities you need for your work can be a part of your routine. Instead of overworking, a common peril of working from home, once you clean the table at the end of your day, your laptop is out of bounds. Shut your laptop and resolve to separate your work time and home time.
Give yourself some time
Many people may find that suddenly adjusting to a work from home model is difficult. If you are an office person suddenly stuck at home, you cannot expect the same level of productivity as you may have had at the office. Although it may not be so obvious, most employers may be expecting a slight drop in their emnployee’s productivity. It is normal to be overpowered by emotions in these difficult times. Give yourself time to adjust slowly and you will get there. Maybe you will find that working from home gives you more freedom and more time to spend with the ones you love.
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