Are you one of the 20% of Americans who never has to wear pants to work because of COVID or your office is anywhere that has Wi-Fi? Well, then this article is for those who are working from home because of any reason like COVID, you can even order COVID rapid antigen test kit from https://clinicalsupplies.com.au/collections/rapid-antigen-tests while staying at home. As romantic as working from home may sound, work still needs to be done.
So, here are seven tips for staying productive while working from home.
Compartmentalize your space
Basically, get out of bed. Though you’re working from home, you should still act like you’re going to work. Separating the space where you sleep from the space where you work alleviates stress and shifts your mindset from personal relaxation to world domination.
Make your first 15 minutes count
According to Lifehack, there are 14 things productive people do in the first 15 minutes of the workday. Basically, the thought is that how you begin your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. From arriving early to preparing your workspace and doing light stretching, this gives you a good guide for beginning your morning – whether you’re confined to a cubicle or spread out on your living room couch.
Schedule your time wisely
You’d think that working from home means the freedom of structure and rules; however, even the most successful people who work from home operate on some sort of schedule. You should set a specific time to:
- Eat breakfast and lunch
- Relax (yes, the benefits of relaxing during the workday are well documented)
- Check email, Reddit, Twitter and Facebook
Take breaks
Research shows that the most productive workers focus for 52 minutes then disengage for 17 minutes. These rest periods help prevent you from burning out, allowing your body time to recharge. A good rule of thumb is for every hour of work, take a 15-minute break.
Enjoy healthy meals
Just as it’s important to plan when you eat, it’s equally important to plan what you eat. With the refrigerator being dangerously close, this will help you avoid the temptation to procrastination-binge.
Change up your environment
Some days, working from home will just feel impossible. That’s OK, it’s good to change up your surroundings. You can utilize your Community Business Center, which has free Wi-Fi and a catering kitchen – plus amenities that accommodate work and play (for when you take those breaks). Otherwise, coffee shops are viable options to renew creativity. According to a study, “A moderate level of ambient noise is conducive to creative cognition.”
Know yourself
This may sound obvious, but everyone has different peaks of productivity. Maybe your inspiration hits first thing in the morning or maybe it takes two cups of coffee and an hour replying to emails to get in work mode, either way, try scheduling the most important tasks for when you know you’ll be most charged.