As a result of the pandemic, 2020 reports show that 42% of all laborers in the U.S. are working from home full-time. This is a massive shift in comparison to previous years. Is there a way to still keep up the fast pace of the office and get your work done even when you’re doing it remotely?
Here are 6 hacks that will help you put your best foot forward while you’re working from home.
1. Make a Workspace
It’s important to separate your living space from your workspace. This helps to prevent you from dozing off or getting distracted in your workspace and boost your overall level of productivity. Even if you can’t dedicate a whole room to your home office, clearing out a table or bringing in a desk can make a world of difference.
2. Keep a Routine
You would have a few rituals and routines in a regular office, so why not keep those in your home office? Having a regular order to your day will help you stay sharp and efficient while you work remotely. You can set timed reminders for yourself on your phone or write out your to-do list on a calendar to help you stay on track.
3. Take Active Breaks
If you’re stuck at your desk all day, be sure that you’re taking intentional time to get your body moving. You could take a stroll around the neighborhood while you’re on a short break or maybe follow along to a couple of exercise videos. Your body will thank you for breaking up your routine of sitting still with some light exercise.
4. Put Away Distractions
If you give into distracting temptations, you’ll lose precious time that you could be using to work. This will just create more problems for yourself in the long run and end up stressing you out. In order to maximize your focus, put away every possible distraction. This can mean putting your phone on airplane mode, shutting your door, and keeping your music turned off for the duration of your work time.
5. Ask For Accountability
A difficult aspect of working from home is the amount of solitude that you have. When you’re isolated, you don’t have as much pressure to get things done in a timely manner. If you struggle with sticking to your timeline, let trustworthy people know that can check in with you and make sure you’re on top of your game.
6. Create an Incentive
All work and no play is no good. If you’re going to pour energy and effort into your workday, the least you can do for yourself is create a small incentive to help keep you motivated. This can be as simple as treating yourself to a face mask or watching an episode of your favorite show when all of your work is over and done with.
