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More and more people are working from home. Whether it is getting some quiet time to get things done or you work from home every day, using your time in the home office needs to be as productive as possible. Below are eleven stay productive tips on how to make your space and time in your home the most effective.
11 tips on how to stay productive when working in your home
Plan your day.
Look at your schedule the night before to make sure you know what you need to get done the next day. Making priorities works best. Pick 2-3 goals to get one step closer to then decide what needs completing. Write the steps down and go in the at order during the day.
Determine your most productive time of the day.
I find that the early morning and after 6:00 p.m. is when I am most productive, so I structure my day where I start at 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM and then take a break till after 6:00 PM. Some days I do not need to work in the evenings, but if there are days that I run behind or have extra work to do, I schedule it for after 6:00 PM.
Keep communication open with your coworkers and colleagues.
Since you are isolated, you will need to reach out more often than you would if you were in the office, and they could stop by your cubical. Call your colleagues (Affiliate Link) once a week to connect.
Minimize distractions during the day.
Determine what you want your kids to do when you need that heads down an hour or two. If you have conference calls and your furry friend loves to chime into the conversation, place him on a different floor before you take your call.
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Find a quiet place that can be closed off from others.
This tip could be a basement office, a guest bedroom, or a corner of a room you do not use often. If possible, the office space should have a door just in case you need to close it for even more privacy.
Bring water and snack to your desk.
If you find that you leave your desk (Affiliate Link) often, bring a snack and water to your space. A well-insulated large water bottle reduces the condensation on the desk (Affiliate Link) and will keep your water chilled for hours. Choose healthy snacks (Affiliate Link) that will satisfy your hunger but will not zap your energy. Hard boiled eggs and nuts are good choices.
Recognize when you are getting distracted.
Several texts at one time from a boss or other coworker is an example of getting distracted. If it isn’t an emergency, text them “I am in the middle of a deadline, let’s schedule a time to talk. I am available at …. to talk.” Provide them with a time and date when you can talk to them. By offering time and date to the recipient, they shouldn’t feel rejected.
Take a few breaks throughout the day.
If you find yourself spending several hours at your desk (Affiliate Link), another stay productive tips is to add a few breaks to your day. To get perspective and separate yourself from the screen. Do some squats or jumping jacks to wake you up. Then, get some water or a snack. Moving around the office will help reconnect you to the task at hand.
Minimize your carbs at lunch.
Do you get a brain fog after you eat a high carb lunch? Put aside the pasta dishes and go for the salad and meat. Also, try not to overeat. By overeating, you will feel uncomfortable when sitting which create a distraction. Try a salad with protein or fresh greens and leftover meat for the night before.
Get ready in the morning like you are going to work.
Another stay productive tip is to not change your morning routine. Even if you are not leaving the house, take a shower, and get dressed. If you want to feel like you are going to work, take a walk around the block in the morning. After taking a walk, it will tell your brain that it is time to get to work. Keep a route each morning helps get everything done.
Enjoy the fact you can work from home.
Above all else, enjoy that you can work from home. It may seem trivial, but not everyone can do this day in and day out. Enjoy the fact that you can sit in your own home and get things done. Gratitude makes you enjoy your time in your office that much more.
These eleven tips will make you so much more productive. Try it and see. I used every one of these tips from time to time, and they worked to get me refocused and recharged for the next activity.
Visit these additional posts to help you get more ideas on how to be stay productive in your home office.
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