Work At Home

Are You More Efficient Working From Home?

Working at home gives people the flexibility to be at home, while still being able to collect a paycheck. But, does working at home automatically make you get more done?

Many people dream of being able to stumble out of bed and begin their workday. They argue that since they don’t have the commute, they can start right away and essentially work during the time others would be using to commute.

The argument is that it’s less stressful not to have that commute hanging over them.

Being able to spend more time with your family is another benefit people associate with working from home. You can be home when your kids come home from school. You’ll be able to go their afterschool activities such as sports games.

People who work at home learn that it has unintended challenges associated with it. For instance, while it’s nice to be around your family, are they letting you get your work done? Are you spending too much time with your family that is taking away from your responsibilities to your job?

You need to work with your family to set up boundaries. This means you should dedicate a space like an office that you use to work. When you are in the office, your family needs to understand that interruptions are off limits, unless it’s an emergency.

You will also need to handle interruptions by neighbors that may visit. While many of your neighbors will be commuting to work, there are more people working from home today.

This increases the chances that some of your neighbors are working from home as well. It’s tempting when you see them outside, to see what they are up to, etc. It’s okay to do this once in a while, but don’t let it interrupt your job.

Job burnout can happen just as easily when working from home as it does when you commute to the office. In fact, companies may expect more of you when you work at home and your time is going to be more scrutinized.

You may end up working more hours even when you factor in the lack of commuting. Your boss may be inclined to call you up after work hours and ask you to handle some tasks.

If they do this to all employees, then you may not be able to do much to change that. However, if they are singling you out because you work at home and they believe this gives them permission to call upon you, this may be something you need to handle.

So, as you can see, there are some disadvantages to working from home too. However, if you are working from home, it pays to stick to a routine and be organized and the following tips may help.

9 Tips To Help You Stay Organized

Being organized should be a way of life and second nature to you.

That way it’s a habit rather than a chore. Of course it takes time and effort to create the habit in the first place but once you’ve achieved it you want to stay that way.

These nine tips will help you to stay organized every day with very little effort or fuss.

Check In

Start your day by checking your schedule and your to do list.

It may be that you’ve thought of something you need to add.

Prioritize your to do list so that you tackle the important items first.

Plan

As well as your to do list you should plan your day.

Include calls, meetings, chores and goals. You can use pen and paper, a planner (a bullet journal is ideal) or a planning app.

Don’t forget to include scheduled breaks. Make sure to include time for friends and family.

The F.A.R. Rules

The F.A.R. Rules are essential for helping you to stay organized. They apply equally to your personal life as your business.

File it – if it’s important and needs to be kept (either in paper or electronic form) then file it immediately.

Act on it – if something needs to have action taken for example, paying a bill or making a call, then do it immediately. Then either file or recycle it.

Recycle it – whether it’s junk mail or papers and items you’ve finished with, recycle it immediately once it’s no longer needed.

These rules applies to emails as well as paperwork. By following them you can keep your inbox under control.

Digital Aids

At times technology can be a distraction but there are some items that can help you become and stay productive.

However, choose your devices and solutions with care so that you don’t create more of a problem for yourself.

You may decide that an app to monitor your health and fitness would be a good idea to keep you on track with your goals.

There are also menu planning apps, scheduling, time and project management, as well as household organization apps.

Track

To be successful with your organization skills you need to track and monitor your progress. What’s working and what’s not?

Be prepared to make changes and adjustments to how you do things.

Just because one method of organizing your closet doesn’t work for you it doesn’t mean that another won’t.

Trash It

Don’t keep things for the sake of it.

If it’s not useful or necessary, then throw it out. If you are keeping it then remember to put it away.

That way you keep your surroundings free from clutter and distractions.

Identify

Keep a track of what works for you and keep on doing it.

If something hasn’t been successful then identify what needs to be changed and do it that way the following day.

5 Minute Review

Just like you started your day, end your day with a five minute review.

Celebrate your accomplishments and cross off everything you’ve achieved from your to do list. Remove any inessential or unimportant tasks that are still remaining.

Whatever is left should be added to the next day’s list.

To Do List

Create your to do list for the following day. Include any important tasks that you didn’t complete that day and only important items that need to be done.

Try and limit your list to 10 items or less so that you don’t feel overwhelmed or end the day with a list of unaccomplished items.

Becoming and staying organized doesn’t happen overnight and it does require regular effort. However, you can stay on track by following these nine tips. You can be organized every day with a little planning, time and effort.

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Working From Home? Transitioning To Working At Home

Transitioning To Working At Home

Have you been forced to work from home due to the global coronavirus crisis? Obviously you are not alone during these strange times!

The initial joy of being able to work from home can be quickly replaced by worry, a lack of motivation and never-ending distractions.

How on earth do you get things done when there are so many distractions in your home? While home working can deliver a lot of benefits, there are a lot of challenges it presents too and many people seriously underestimate these!

In this post, you’ll discover some useful tips you can follow when it comes to transitioning to working from home.

Set Up A Quiet Work Area

With all of the distractions at home, it can be really hard to concentrate on work. This is especially true if you have kids at home.

So, if you want to ensure you can get things done in peace, it’s worth setting up a quiet working space.

Try and use a room that isn’t frequently used during the day. Place a sign on the door when you’re trying to work to let others know not to disturb you.

Make sure the workspace is comfortable too as you won’t get a lot done if you aren’t comfortable.

Start Work At Your Normal Time

One of the main challenges that can come from working from home is delaying the time you usually start.

It’s tempting to have a lie in and take longer to relax in the morning before starting. However, this only zaps your productivity.

If you want to ensure you stay productive, you’ll want to start as early as possible. The positive side to this is that the earlier you start, the earlier you’ll get to finish.

Limit Social Media Screen Time!

You’ll have a lot more time to check in on social media when you haven’t got the boss breathing down your neck. However, it’s easy to waste hours using social media accounts if you aren’t careful.

Many home workers find it useful to set limits on their social media use during working hours. It could be simply committing to using it during a specific time for example. Having limits in place makes you more aware of how much you’re using it.

Maintain Your Usual Work Routine

It’s really important to try and maintain your usual routine. This is linked to starting work at your normal time as mentioned above.

This means, getting ready for work in the same way you usually do.

So, wake up at the same time, have your usual cup of coffee and get dressed into your work clothes. It’s amazing how much of a difference this can make to your productivity.

These are just a few tips you can follow when transitioning to working from home. It can be a big adjustment, but there are lots of tools and tips out there to help.

Trying to maintain your usual routine is one of the best things you can do during these changing times and will allow you to be just as productive as you were in your work place.

Here are a few more tips to help you with productivity when working from home.

How To Be Productive Working At Home

As convenient and beneficial as working from home can be, it can also prove to be damaging to productivity.

The trouble is, up until now, you’ve associated your home as a space for relaxing. So, it can be difficult switching to a more productive mindset when you’re in the comfort of your home.

The good news is, there are ways to boost your productivity when remote working. Here, you’ll discover some of the best ways to stay productive when working at home.

Keep Your Workspace Tidy And Just For Work

You’re going to find it hard to stay productive if your workspace is cluttered.

So, before you start, take time to clean up the area you’re planning on working in.

Get rid of any clutter and organize the space.

The cleaner and tidier the space is, the easier you’ll find it to focus on your work.

Take Regular Breaks And Get Outside For Air

Suddenly being cooped up in the house all day can be detrimental to productivity.

It can cause issues with low mood and leave you feeling less motivated to get through your workload.

By taking regular breaks and making time to get out into the yard, it can really boost those productivity levels.

Spend just 10-15 minutes gardening or reading a book outdoors to help refresh productivity levels.

Always Prepare For The Day Ahead

When you go out to work, you know there’s things you need to do to get ready for the day.

You have a routine which prepares you for work. However, when you start working from home you don’t really have that.

Rather than thinking you can now work in your pajamas all day, make the effort to get dressed.

Create a morning routine which sets you up for work. That way, you’ll find it much easier to stay productive if your mindset is geared towards work.

Harness The Power Of Nature

Did you know that plants and flowers can help you to feel more motivated? Adding them into your workspace can help to brighten up the working environment.

Numerous studies have shown how effective greenery can be within an office environment. So, if you want an easy way to stay productive, add a few houseplants and flowers to your home office.

You can also utilize the power of scent too. In some countries, workplaces spray citrus scents to boost employee productivity. Try experimenting with different scents to see which ones make you work more efficiently.

Staying productive when working at home isn’t easy but it is doable.

The above are some of the best methods you can try to increase those productivity levels. Taking regular breaks away from your computer are important, not just for productivity but for your health too.

OK, I hope these pointers will help you to stay productive in your working from home during these unprecedented times, and stay safe.