Working remotely and wondering how to be productive at home? One of the positive aspects of the pandemic is that it showed us how much of our work can be done remotely. Families have finally been given the flexibility to work hybrid or fully remotely while caring for their loved ones. (Though this has also posed challenges for some around focus and productivity).
Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mama working part-time remotely to bring in extra cash and you’re wondering how to be productive at home. It’s easy to get distracted when you have littles running around that might also need your attention. We all know that women have been having a more difficult time with work-life balance in the pandemic, the demands are higher and women are often left with the caregiver duties with less understanding and flexibility from their boss ( yay gender inequity🙄).
Let’s equip you with some tools for increasing productivity at home!
This Post is all about How to be Productive at Home
Working from home whether you’re a blogger, in tech, customer service, a VA, or otherwise is so rewarding. It feels as if we’ve finally been given permission to put our lives and our families first and create an income around our schedules. Some of the downsides are that it can be hard to turn work off, and it can sometimes be hard to focus on work and be productive.
How to be Productive at Home in 9 Easy Steps
Follow these 9 Simple steps to increase your productivity at home.
1. Create a Productive Morning Routine
The way we begin our days has a large impact on how we experience the rest of it. If you want to feel energized and productive throughout the day you need a great morning routine. Start your morning off-screen-free, so many of us reach for our phones as soon as our eyes open and it takes away some of our brain capacity first thing. Next, get in some movement, even if it’s doing hip circles or jogging on the spot for 2 minutes next to your bed.
Movement will get our energy flowing first thing in the morning. If you have the time write down your intention for the day or free write in a journal for 5 minutes. For a more expansive list of what makes a productive morning routine check out this blog post.
2. Minimize Decisions
Decision fatigue is when you begin to lose the ability to make decisions because your brain is at capacity with the number of decisions you’ve already made (like brain fog). If you’re working from home, running a business, or raising a family chances are you have many important decisions to make each day. You can minimize your risk of decision fatigue by implementing systems/pre-making decisions ahead of time.
Why not use a meal planning service for at least one of your meals per day? design a capsule wardrobe or map out your outfits for the week so you can grab and go a lot quicker. Make easy breakfasts like smoothies so you don’t have to think about what you’re going to cook in the morning. Anything you can systematize so that you can avoid making a decision will allow you to have the capacity to make decisions where it really counts: with your family and in your work.
3. Limit your Distractions
As amazing as working from home is, it also comes with a lot of distractions. Why work on your looming deadline when the TV is just right there? Whose to stop you from doom-scrolling Instagram for an hour when there’s no co-worker in sight? If you want to be productive at home you have to limit your distractions.
Try leaving your phone in another room during your work hours or try out an app like One Sec to limit the time you spend on social. Make sure there’s no TV in the room you’re working in, and if you don’t have a choice, ensure your desk or work area is facing the opposite way. Make a list of possible distractions that you have at home and then brainstorm some solutions on how you can limit them.
4. Set a Schedule with your Family
Set boundaries with any family members that may be at home while you’re working, and let your partner and kids know that from x to x time mommy is not available. If you’re dubbed with the task of watching your children while you work from home create a schedule for your kids! Perhaps some fun or educational activities can be planned during an important work hour to keep them distracted or you can time their afternoon naps with your power working hour. Figure out the schedule that best works for you and your family, communicate it with everyone, and stick to it.
5. Create a Designated Workspace
Creating a designated workspace in your home allows you to feel like you’re “commuting” and like you can separate your work and home lives. The thing about working from home is that sometimes it can feel difficult to “turn off”, especially when our laptops are right there. If you have a guest bedroom or den area in the home you might want to consider converting it to a workspace.
If you’re limited on space try to carve out an area in your home (NOT your bedroom) that can double as a workspace. Some key things to consider: keep your work space clean, declutter as much as possible so that you’re not feeling distracted and if possible pick a spot with a view!
6. Time Block for Productivity
Time blocking is when you allot focus time for a specific task in your calendar. It’s a simple way to organize your day and ensure that you’re prioritizing the tasks that need to get done without hopping back and forth between other items. In order to work productively at home you want to ensure you’re also adding things like laundry, lunch breaks, playtime, or whatever else you have going on into your time-blocked calendar. The reality is that we work from home so we can have a work-life balance, so ensure your calendar reflects that.
7. Hype Yourself up with Music
We all feel a little demotivated sometimes, a good playlist can spark feelings of excitement or even allow you to focus. There’s a reason why so many gym classes blast music (seriously, is spin a workout or a night club? it’s unclear) and that’s because it motivates us! or maybe loud music isn’t your thing, lo-fi or binaural beats might be more your jam. Binaural beats are specifically designed to reduce anxiety and increase focus.
8. Take Breaks
Contrary to what you may believe, taking breaks will actually increase your productivity. When you’re “on” for hours on end you’ll get tired and your quality of work will suffer. Ensuring that you’re stepping away from the desk periodically is key to maintaining energy and focus. If you can’t step outside you can practice taking a brain break, close your eyes and take some deep breaths for 2 minutes, and allow your mind to rest before getting back into it.
9. Celebrate your Wins!
Yes celebrating your wins boosts productivity! How else are you going to maintain your momentum? you need to check in with your why and celebrate your progress to getting there. When you’re having sticky work moments or are struggling to get through the work day remember why you’re doing this (maybe it’s to have more income for your kids? Maybe you’re working toward time freedom, maybe you’re saving up for something special) and then celebrate the steps you’ve taken toward that goal! This excitement and energy will keep you going.
How to be Productive Right Now
You’re doing it! Seeking out resources and tools like this blog post is the first step to being more productive. If you’ve enjoyed this post but are wondering how to get started try this: out of all the steps provided, which one really stood out to you? and what is one small action you can take today to implement this new concept in your life?
This Post was all about How to be Productive at Home
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