With distractions like the fridge and laundry around, it’s not always easy to stay focused when working from home. Here are five tips that will help you keep your sanity and stay productive.
Set goals
Setting long and short-term goals will keep you motivated and focused on reaching your end vision. Sometimes it helps to define your high-level goals first, and then work backwards to identify the milestones you’ll need to hit on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Pro tip: Keep track of all your goals in a journal is a nice reminder of where you started and where you’d like to be!
Create a daily work schedule
Investing in a planner and making a daily work schedule can help you keep your work and personal life balanced. Make a schedule for yourself and write down how much time you would like to spend on each activity for that day. Are there any current events you need to revise your schedule for? Along with planning out your schedule, it’s also helpful to have a set end time for your workday so you don’t run over into your family and free time.
Have a designated work area
Having a designated work area is key to staying focused. There are plenty of distractions at home like the television and the dishes — and those snacks in the cabinet aren’t going to eat themselves. Therefore, it’s important to have an office or desk that is specifically allocated for your work time. Create an environment that works best for you and take factors like lighting, space, and distraction levels into consideration.
Take breaks
Taking breaks can help improve your productivity. Breaks let you reflect on what you have done so far for the day and on what tasks you still need to finish. It’s good to get up once an hour and take a five-minute break to let your mind and eyes rest. Getting out of the house is a good idea as well; eat lunch in a nearby cafe or go for a walk around the neighborhood, for example. It’s important to have these little environmental changes so that your work and home life don’t blend into one, and you can stay on track.
Remember why you work
Are you working to pay bills or is it because you are passionate about what you do? Maybe you are seeking financial freedom, or maybe you are looking to be known and recognized. Perhaps it’s a little bit of everything. Whatever the reason, little positive reminders like Post-it Notes on your computer or posters on your wall can help you stay inspired and driven during your day.
Nicole is our Content Strategist. She enjoys long walks to Taco Bell, rollerblading into the sunset, and eating Reese’s Cups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Find her writing about iPhone cases, holiday card messaging and even music festival tips!
