A lot of people are deciding to work remotely, which is also known as working from home. And for good reason. Working remotely has a lot of advantages such as saving on commuting time, more flexibility when it comes to hours and dress code, and less worry about how your work is impacting your personal life.
It’s also a great way to make sure that you’re able to be in touch with family and friends and not miss out on important milestones that may happen in their lives (like graduation, birthdays, etc.). But even though there are many benefits associated with remote work, working from home is not as simple as it might seem.
There are many factors and possibilities that can make you unproductive throughout the day so here are some guidelines or boundaries you should set to get things done at home.
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Find A Designated Work Space
A designated work space can be very important. With work from home being the default for most at the moment, it is important to have a designated workspace or home office that is separate from the rest of your household members as much as possible.
Find a space where you will not be interrupted when family members come and go from the work area as much as possible. The desk should also be close to a power outlet and preferably near windows for natural light.
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Use Soundscapes
So what is a soundscape? Soundscapes are when we use sound and music to create an immersive atmosphere. These sounds can be background noises, sound effects, or musical instruments that sounds like what is happening (e.g. using a maraca to sound like rain).
Soundscapes can help establish a productive mood when working from home, but before deciding on one it is important to know what you want out of your soundtrack. For example, when people exercise in their homes, they usually listen to upbeat songs with a steady rhythm in the background. However, if someone is looking for a more relaxed workout, there are specific songs that will promote relaxation and provide relief from stress or anxiety .
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Maximize Your Time
To make the most of your working hours, you need to find ways to maximize your time. One way to do this is by making sure that all tasks are taken care of in advance.
This includes setting up appointments and scheduling meetings ahead of time, doing research for projects before they come up, taking care of errands like shopping and laundry before they become a problem, and preparing food in advance so that it is ready when hunger strikes. These small things can save you a lot of precious time during the busy workday.
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Get Rid Of Distractions
It is important to take care of any interruptions right away as we this will leave you more time for getting your work done. One way that you can do this is by turning off the notifications on your phone and computer. This will keep you from getting distracted by texts, emails or other notifications while working.
You might also consider using a Do Not Disturb mode on your phone so that it won’t ring or vibrate while you are working. However, do remember to set a time limit for work sessions and be sure to check on your phone afterwards to follow up with urgent stuff that needs to be settled or to take a well deserved break.
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Take Breaks
We all know that when we work from home, sometimes it is hard to take a break from the computer. We can get so involved in our work that we forget to stop. When you take a break, your brain gets a short period of time to refresh and restart.
While working from home, you have the ability to set your own schedule for breaks rather than going into an office where there are strict office hours. As such, this will improve your productivity and focus when you return back to work.
No matter what industry you’re in or what type of business you’re running, the benefits of working from home are immense. We hope with these tips for being productive while working from home, it’s possible for everyone to be more successful than ever before.
