Working from home comes with many benefits: you can work from any place in the world, save money on travelling, have access to your fridge
😄
But at the same time there are some down sides. Spending that much time in the same place can play with your mind and your productivity can easily go down. This is something you do not need in your working day.
After having a significant amount of hours where I worked from home I decided to research the best practices on how to keep working from home efficient and stay motivated and so… here they are!
1. Revamp your commute
In the case that you usually do not work from home, but you are forced to by any circumstances, you’ll find a lot of extra time in your hands. For example, as I live in London, it usually takes me an hour and a half to get to work. That now gives me roughly an extra 3 hours and it is very tempting to procrastinate in those hours. Instead, try to start a new habit. Read in the morning, or have a nice long stretch.
2. Set up an alarm
Set up an alarm in the morning and make sure you wake up at that time or worst case scenario around that time. That way your body is physically on a schedule.
3. Get dressed
It is so tempting to stay in your pajamas all day. Why not??? But doing something as simple as getting dressed a t-shirt and jeans will help your mind separate I’M GETTING STUFF DONE from I’M COSY IN MY PAJAMAS.
4. Designate a work space
Keeping your pajamas on is tempting as much as working in your bed. And that is one of the worst things you can do as you will quickly fall into a trap. Instead, try to make your bedroom as tech free as possible and designate a place where you can get your work done. That way when you walk into that space you’ll subconsciously know I AM TURNING ON MY WORK MODE NOW and it will be easier to get work done.
5. Take breaks
Even if you create the perfect working space for yourself, you will still need to take breaks. I do not mean just a lunch break. I am talking about small breaks of 10-15 min every once in a while. Try not to get into any tech while on a break. Those breaks will keep your productivity high.
6. Put your phone away
Once you have your space, you need to make sure you have as little distractions as possible, the biggest one being … your phone! A way to do that is to keep it in another room and designate a time in the morning and in the afternoon to socialize or just scroll around.
7. Make lists
You will find yourself having a lot of things to deal with throughout the day. The best way to deal (and organize) those things is by simply creating a list. Take a pen and paper, and write down the things you need to do in the morning and the ones for the afternoon. Ideally prioritise them. Once you finish any of the written tasks then cross it down. Researchers show that this brings satisfaction. Try it!
8. Naps
Once you try afternoon naps you will never want to go back. Why… because they make you more productive! The contract I’m on now doesn’t allow me much to take naps and this is the thing I miss the most because I used to take naps all the time.
I used to have long shifts in a restaurant when I was a waiter and I had a nap in the staff room. Used to work as a sales representative, travelling all day: I used to take long routes in the afternoon and sleep on the bus or on the train. I used to work in an office, brought myself a pillow, used my jacket as a blanket 😅
This is not going to sleep, it’s more like a mediation. Most of the times you are aware of what is happening around you. The nap should be between 15 and 35 minutes. No more than 40 as when you wake up after that your body will be exhausted. What I usually do is I set up an alarm for 21 minutes, with the idea to give myself 1 min to relax and 20 minutes of a nap, and I usually do that between 2:30 and 3:30. Then, when you wake up, have a nice cup of tea.
Here’s a curious fact: some of the greatest minds in the world love the afternoon nap. How many can you name? Write their names in the comment section
9. Snacks
When I’m in the office I always make sure I have a lot to choose from when it comes to snacks. When people see random carrots, cucumbers, humus or boiled eggs, they don’t ask any more who has them. They know they are all mine 😂 and when you are at home you will find it very tempting to reach for cookies, waffles and chocolate. Instead, stock your fridge and cupboards with vegetables, fruits, protein bars, shakes and other healthy options.
10. End your day when you Work From Home
When you are working from an office you know when your day has ended: it’s when you exit the office. But what about when you work from home? It’s important to find that “thing” that ends your working day. That can be as simple as taking a shower, going out for a run or to the gym. That will physically send a sign to your mind and your body that this is the end of the working day. Now you can go in your pajamas, watch a show, go out with friends. Give yourself time to separate from work and enjoy life.
Watch this article…
Well. that’s really it. These are the tips I follow and if you go with them I am sure you will start noticing how your productivity goes higher.
Do you belive I have missed something? I am curious to hear what you have on the subject. Write it down in the comments.
The more I think about it, #1 is so important, especially for people like you, Pav, who have a huge commute every day. All of that extra time could be devoted to your own physical, social and mental health. It’s easy to let that extra time fritter away, so being conscious of that time is a great tip. Cheers.
When I was living in Bulgaria at some point I met people who worked in Varna (3rd biggest city) and lived in another town. It took them about 40 min to travel to Varna by car. My mind couldn’t understand it. Now, I’m in a far “worst” situation 🤣
That’s one of the benefits of traveling: your mind expands :),