After years of working from home, I can honestly tell you that there is no secret to how you get everything done in a day. Some days are harder than others, and things don’t always go as planned. However, if you struggle with productivity, there are a few things you can do to be more productive when you are working from home.
How to be productive working from home
Set a Work “Schedule”
Find out when you are most productive and make those hours count. Set yourself loose guidelines for when you will work and then stick to it as best you can. If you have kids’ schedules that throw off your schedule from time to time, plan as best as you can and roll with it! However, you should try your best to stick to a somewhat set work schedule when you work from home.
Get Dressed for the Day
Staying in your pajamas all day makes you only want to go back to bed! While this can be a hard hurdle to overcome, get ready, and dressed for the day. This will help you not only be sure that you are showering and doing the laundry from time to time but help you feel more ready to take on your day. Remember that it takes just as long to put on sweatpants as it does to put on real pants.
Take Regular Breaks
In a standard 9-5, you likely have a lunch break or even regular breaks throughout your day. Make sure that if you work from home, you take breaks too. They don’t have to be long breaks, but getting up to stretch your legs for a few minutes every few hours can make a significant impact on your overall workday.
Time Block Your Schedule or Even Days
Jumping from task to task can make you less productive. While it might feel like you’re getting more done, you are getting it done slower. Instead, look for similar tasks and batch them together! If you need to do scheduling or writing, gather up all of your tasks related to that one topic or theme and do them all at once. Then, move on to the next segment of tasks.
Take Time Off
When you work from home, you will end up working more hours than you did at a traditional job. It feels wrong to take time off, and it’s harder to make time to take time off. To make sure you aren’t overworked, make sure you plan for a few days off each week. If you can’t afford a full day off at this stage in your business, then aim for a few hours of work-free time every single day. This will help you be more focused and productive during your working hours.
You don’t have to be a productivity expert to start and run a business from home! These tips will help make sure you make your time working from home count, instead of just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. And if you’ve got kids home with you (I have 3, so I get it) these can help everyone. Just know that you’ve got this and not everyday is going to be productive.
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