Editor’s Note: Here at Dispatches, we are always looking for ways to help our readers do things. For some of our readers, that means helping navigate the working world, for others, it means assisting in the ever challenging question, “what’s for dinner?” For still others, it means figuring out how to balance family life with everything else. In an effort to aid in all of these endeavors, we have collaborated on this article written specifically for our readers.
Thanks to technology and the Internet, more of solopreneurs and employees are able to work from home. If you are one of these remote workers, you will probably have set up a home office to help you get work done. Here are several tips to help make sure you aren’t losing out on productivity just because you are at home.
Cut The Distractions
One of the main reasons why people find it hard to concentrate in their home office if because of all the distractions. There are a lot more ways to procrastinate at home! For example, you could decide to do wash a load of laundry or make dinner rather than finish your work. So be sure to get rid of all the possible distractions before you sit down to work. Finish all your housework at the weekend so you can’t use that as an excuse! And move any books and TVs out of your office.
Take Regular Breaks
If you try to work for long periods of time, you will find it difficult to continue concentrating. You will find it much easier to concentrate on all your work if you work in small blocks and take regular breaks like you would at an office. The breaks don’t have to be too long; they can be as short as the time it takes you to get a drink from the kitchen. This prevents you from draining your energy all in one go. Each time you sit back at your desk, you will find that you are ready to tackle the next chunk of time.
Stand At Your Desk
Recent studies have shown that it could be better for you to stand at your desk rather than sit. Worried about having to bend over all the time? Well, you don’t need to strain your back! You can now buy desks that have been specially built for people to stand at. There are a few different online review sites where you can find out which is the Best Standing Desk for you.
Prioritize Your Workload
Do you have to do a task that you know is going to be a time consuming or involve a lot of thinking? Then you should prioritize that and get it done at the beginning of your day. That way, everything you do afterwards will feel easy in comparison. If you leave it until the end of your day, you could end up putting it off until it starts to feel like a chore. You may not have any energy left to complete it, either. So prioritize and get the tricky things out of the way first.
Celebrate Your Accomplishments
No matter how productive you have been, you should always celebrate what you have managed to accomplish with a treat. Reflect on your day’s work and give yourself a pat on the back. Think about starting a reward system that will encourage you to be as productive as possible while working from home. You might be surprised at what this helps you to achieve throughout the day.