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Words: Erin Weaver
Working from home is the ultimate dream for some people. You can save commuting time, wear whatever you want, and avoid all those colleagues you don't want to see. On the other hand, it's easy to waste time and feel unproductive when you work from home. This leads to long days and extra work stress that you don't need. Next time you're working from home, try these eight productivity tips so you can have the perfect workday.
Dress For Success
Getting dressed into presentable clothing will make you feel like you're officially up and ready to work. A full suit and fancy hairstyle aren't necessary, but make sure you get out of your pajamas and into a clean daytime outfit before you start work.
Find Your Office Space
Don't succumb to the temptation to work from bed or your couch. Create a proper workspace for yourself, whether it's a dedicated home office, a desk in the corner of your living room, or even just a neat spot on your kitchen table. This will make it easier for your brain to switch in and out of work mode.
Create An Office Atmosphere
Trick your mind into thinking you're in an office and you'll be less easily distracted and more efficient. Play a soundtrack of office sounds or white noise through headphones to keep you in the zone, and don't work near a window or pet that might distract you.
Take Regular Breaks
If you let yourself hunch over your computer for hours at a time, you'll find yourself slacking the second you do take a break. You don't want your lunchbreak to become a three-hour procrastination roll because it's the first second you have to yourself all day. Set a timer to give yourself a ten- or fifteen-minute break every hour - it will improve your productivity overall.
Make Lunch
Don't stay at your workstation while you eat lunch, whether you're working or browsing the internet. Get up, go to another room, and eat your lunch with a book or a friend. You could even make a lunch date outside your home to give you a chance to stretch your legs and chat with someone.
Work Towards Mini-Deadlines
It's easier to procrastinate when you have deadlines which stretch out into the future. Set mini-deadlines for yourself throughout the day - what do you need to get done today? What do you want to achieve before lunch? These mini-deadlines are your path to success.
Send Regular Work Updates
Make sure to keep your employer or client updated with what you've achieved and what you're going to achieve soon. This will force you to hold yourself accountable and work efficiently, even if no one is there to see you do it.
Use Accountability Apps
Look into work-from-home apps to keep you working well. Cold Turkey will shut off all distracting websites on your computer in the hours you're working, so you can't procrastinate online. NowDoThis is a simple to-do list app which lets you track your productivity throughout your workday. Workfrom offers you a list of cafés and coworking spaces near you in case you just need to get out of your house to work for the day. There are hundreds of other useful apps to help you hack your workday when you're doing it from home, so search for the ones which can help you.
Working from home can seem daunting, but it doesn't need to be a nightmare of long days and endless procrastination. Use these productivity tips so you can be happy and efficient when you work from home.