Working from home has become more popular and has several advantages, including flexibility, cost-effectiveness, etc. Research reveals that working from home is most likely here to stay, with the number of people doing so rising to about 25.9% in 2020 compared to 12.4% in the previous year, mainly due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, it can also affect your productivity and present you with many distractions if you don’t plan adequately and put in some measures to help. Here are some practical tips to boost your productivity while you work from home.

Pay attention to your appearance

Working from home can get comfortable, and you can subconsciously overlook vital things such as your appearance, especially during a virtual meeting. How you dress while working from home can impact your mentality and create the right atmosphere for you to work. You don’t necessarily have to dress as strictly or formally as you usually would if you were going to the office, but changing from your pyjamas could do you a lot of good. Why not grab a change of clothes before you start your day? You can also add an extra touch by taking a shower to set the tone for the day, tying your hair in a neat bun, etc.

Have a dedicated space

Although you can work from anywhere at home, it would help if you had a dedicated workspace without any distractions. You can start by getting a chair that will help you maintain good posture and a desk where you can comfortably place your laptop and any items you may need for your work. Doing this will make it easier for you to attend to your tasks with the utmost concentration.

You should also ensure you have other tools to make your work smoother, such as good internet, the necessary updates for your devices, etc. It will make it easier for you to schedule and respond to work calls, etc., without much delay. You may sometimes experience setbacks while working, such as issues with your device, but you shouldn’t let that stress you. If you’re having difficulty updating your laptop, for instance, this link provides you with the assistance you need.

Set specific working hours

Maintaining a work-life balance is still essential when you’re working from home, and having specific working hours can help with that and enable you to set clear boundaries. In handling your work, you may sometimes lose track of time and end up overworking without realising it. It would help if you had a routine for your working days, such as when you start work, what time you take a break, and what time you put away your work to spend quality time with family. Setting alarms can be helpful as well to help keep you in check. Having a to-do list will also help you know which tasks to prioritise and challenge you to focus on the goals you’ve set for the day. It’ll also make it easy for you to hold yourself accountable to your manager as you’re able to track how you use your working hours.

Communicate your expectations and boundaries to your family

Working from home can come with many distractions if you don’t let those you live with know what they should and shouldn’t do while you’re working. Due to the flexibility of working from home, your family may not see it in the same light as if you were working from the office. As such, your kid, for example, may not see anything wrong barging in while you’re on a call. However, you can prevent this by setting clear boundaries with your family and letting them know you may not be available during your working hours. You can also delegate some household tasks to other family members if they’re available, so you don’t feel overwhelmed or worry about whether everything is fine while you’re away.

Put away social media

Social media can prove beneficial for your work but can also be a significant distraction if you don’t discipline yourself as it can be time-consuming. If you don’t need social media for your tasks, it’s best to put your phone away while you work. You can also keep yourself in check by setting limits on how much time you spend online. You can also limit yourself to checking your social media only during breaks if you absolutely must.

Don’t overlook your well-being

There’s a high chance of you developing poor habits such as excessive snacking, poor posture, etc.. while working from home. However, your health and well-being should be a priority, and you should find little ways to help you do that. For instance, you can try occasionally stretching during your working hours for about five to ten minutes to help with your posture. You can also have a healthy breakfast before you start work and drink lots of water throughout your day, to minimise the likelihood of grabbing an unhealthy snack. Overeating junk food may even affect your productivity by making you feel slow and unwilling to work. It would help if you also tried to get a good night’s sleep to refuel you for your day, but try to guard against oversleeping or working in your bed, as this could negatively affect your productivity.

Stay connected

While working from home, you may sometimes feel isolated, especially from your teammates or colleagues. Therefore, you should make a conscious effort to stay in touch with them and check on one another. Doing this will help remind you that you’re not alone in facing your work tasks and help you maintain the human connection. You can also share ideas with your team and regularly check in with your manager to help hold you accountable. Suppose your company occasionally organises virtual team building sessions. In that case, it’ll be a great idea to join, to foster that sense of community if you go back to working from the office.

With the practical tips listed above, you can still be efficient while working from home and remain focused on your goals.