“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
Pele
- Create a Proper Working Environment
Environment plays a key role in our everyday lives, as it influences our behavior in a space. A space that is free of clutter and distractions may be more likely to encourage someone to become productive versus someone who is confined in a clutter-infested environment. Investing time into properly arranging this space should be the first task on your list in working from home. Choose a day over the weekend to dedicate your workspace to. You may need to pick up a desk, invest in a new chair, or possibly pick up new desk supplies. Of course you don’t need to break the bank, what you already have may do just fine, but if there are items you lack, now is the time to pick up all that you need. After gathering all your needed items, it’s time to arrange them in your space. If you didn’t need to purchase much, perhaps re-arranging your desk, chair, and supplies could prove to be beneficial. Move items around and see what setup you find most functional. If you are unsure of how to organize this space, research images of room layouts to become inspired. You have now created and dedicated a space for productivity. Great work!
- Don’t Work in Pajamas
Who doesn’t love working in their pajamas? However, have you ever wondered if they have an impact on our workflow? Of course, there are times when you actually are productive when working in pajamas, but when working from home on a regular basis, taking the time to dress in decent loungewear could well be one thing that helps keep you focused on your work. When wearing pajamas, what activities do you typically participate in? Perhaps you’re eating dinner, watching TV, or lying in bed on your phone. When working, these are the activities we try our best to avoid. Avoid wearing pajamas so you are not tempted to indulge in distractions while working. Wearing jeans in the house all day may be uncomfortable, so wear decent loungewear to stay productive and comfortable.
- Start at Your Normal Time and Follow Your Daily Routine
Working from home should be like working in the office (with the perks of being in the comforts of your space). With this, you should follow your usual schedule to stay on top of tasks. If you are able to choose what tasks to start first freely, create a schedule you feel fits your remote workflow. Following a routine will help keep you focused and ready to meet your marks for the day. Without a schedule, you are more likely to do less work throughout the day and by the end of the week, have little to nothing to show. Create a schedule and stick with it.
- Take a Lunch Break
It is not uncommon for people to skip lunch at work. In working from home, there’s no excuse to skip out on having a proper meal. What makes working from home so amazing is that instead of a boring packed lunch (or no lunch at all) you have all your favorite foods to choose from. With this, you are also less likely to spend money eating out. Take a break from your work to indulge in an amazing lunch. Be careful not to choose foods that are heavy, for example a large pasta dish, as these can cause you to become tired and less productive.
- Have Video Conferences with Your Colleagues
Keeping in touch with colleagues is a great way to ensure you are doing your part as a team member. Having weekly meetings will hold you accountable for the work you’ve done. Another benefit is that when hearing what work other team members have been crafting, you are likely to be inspired by their work and strive to stay focused to accomplish all your tasks. In working hard, other team members will be inspired by your work ethic as well and strive to produce work of the same quality.