Remote work continues to be popular, and various ideas can enhance your work-from-home experience. Whether you are new to remote work or a seasoned pro, and whether you work for yourself or for a big-name, established company, the following eight suggestions should increase your productivity, keep you motivated, and help your work-life balance.
- Set Up a Dedicated Workspace
A designated area solely for work purposes helps you with work-life balance, motivation, focus, and productivity. The ideal for many people would be having a home office to themselves or even a work-from-home shed. However, these types of solutions are not always the most realistic. Ideas in these situations include:
● A nook that could serve as your home office
● A kitchen work-from-home center
● A desk in the living room
● A large closet to work in
You may have to get creative with storage and lighting. Small shelves can be a big help with vertical storage, especially when space is limited for your daily work items.
- Learn New Skills
People who work from home may be at extra risk of losing motivation for continuing education. One approach is to use the time you would save on your commute to go toward learning new skills.
You can take online courses, participate in webinars, or join virtual workshops relevant to your professional growth. For example, if your business is teaching or training others, you could enroll in train the trainer courses to refresh your skills and infuse you with new ideas. No matter what line of work you are in, expanding your skill set enhances your value and opens up new opportunities.
- Make Your Technology Work for You
Working from home is unnecessarily frustrating for some people because of outdated technology. You need these things:
● A good, reliable internet connection
● Computers and other gadgets that optimize your workflow instead of slowing it
● High-quality headset and webcam for video meetings
● Productivity apps and project management software
Look at your budget and expenses to see where there’s room to upgrade your technology. Your life will be much easier for it.
- Set a Schedule and Stick to It
Consistency is critical for most people who work from home. For example, specific working hours and breaks help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and stay in tune with your family and friends. Otherwise, the temptation to overwork or to put off getting started can always be there.
If you’re struggling to start your work day in the first place, it may help to create a routine that eases you into work. It can feel odd to wake up, brush your teeth, and immediately start work, so try going for a walk or run first or sitting in a nearby cafe and enjoying a cup of coffee. Stacking your habits can be incredibly effective and means you build a new habit onto something you already do.
- Take Regular Breaks
Regular breaks for five or 10 minutes offer the opportunity for you to refresh your mind and prevent burnout. During these times, you could engage in physical activities, stretch, or practice mindfulness.
One approach is to use the Pomodoro Technique. You work uninterrupted for 25 minutes and then take a short break and do something not related to work. For every four 25-minute sessions, you take a longer break of up to 30 minutes instead of a shorter break. There’s a lot of room to experiment with. For example, if 25 minutes does not work for you, maybe 10 minutes does with a one-minute break.
- Stay Involved and Communicate Actively
Engagement helps you stay motivated and productive. Use video calls, chat platforms, email, and other communication channels to stay in the loop and build relationships with your colleagues and managers.
Take advantage of team-building activities (or organize your own) to keep morale high and foster camaraderie. Online quizzes, virtual coffee breaks, and collaborative online games can make you feel closer to people despite the actual physical distance.
- Establish Work-Life Boundaries
Create clear boundaries between work and personal life and stick to them. Typical examples include these.
● Avoid working beyond your designated hours.
● Don’t let your personal life intrude into your workspace and vice versa (for example, don’t take your work laptop into bed with you at night to do work there).
● Hang signs or other FYIs, such as “In a meeting,” on your door or doorknob, so your family members don’t interrupt your work.
● Discuss expectations with your spouse or other relevant people who live with you or who are a big part of your life.
● Practice saying “No,” if you struggle with that.
● Have backup plans for childcare or other foreseeable needs, like those offered by St Ives Childcare or Eikoh, or consider taking the day off work completely instead of attempting to manage both responsibilities simultaneously.
- Prioritize Self-Care
Remember to take care of your physical and mental well-being, especially if much of your work involves you sitting and being alone. Incorporating regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and enough sleep into your routine can do wonders for your happiness and work productivity. Focus on activities in your off time that make you happy and relaxed.
Working from home can offer incredible flexibility and freedom, but it also requires you to be proactive to maximize your success. Set up a dedicated workspace, keep your skills sharp, and establish a work-life balance so that you can work in a thriving, flourishing environment.
