11 Tips For Working From Home

The COVID-19 crisis might have you working from home these days. Here are some tips to make it a little easier.

Build a Work Space

The first step in your “work from home” journey is to designate an area of your home, specifically for getting work done. This could be an empty or spare bedroom that you convert to a home office.

Establish an area of your home where you will work, and commit to working in this space every day. Be sure your work space is quiet so you can focus on the task at hand.

Set Real Work Hours

Now that you have your office or work area set up, it’s time to get down to business — literally. If you are going to keep your sanity, you need to set specific business or work hours.

The beauty of working from home is that you can be flexible in setting your working hours, but make sure to enforce a hard limit at the end of the day. Distance yourself from work, so you don’t work nonstop.

Discover Your High Productivity Periods

Discover when you are most productive and build your work schedule around your peak productivity periods.

Get Dressed For Work

Working in your PJs can kill your productivity. “Dress for success” isn’t just a corporate catchphrase; it really matters when you work from home.

Beyond psychologically getting you in the right mindset for work, you’ll be ready to handle any kind of video chat or check-in with a teammate. You’ll be prepared to get work done, and you will be mentally and physically prepared for the day.

Develop a Morning Routine

Another enjoyable perk of working from home is not having to get up, rush out of the house, and commute to an office. However, working from home doesn’t mean you get to skip your morning routine altogether.

Exercise & Stretch Regularly

Exercise naturally boosts endorphins, which increases happiness, enjoyment, and interest levels, all of which are important for productivity.

Regularly stretching helps you maintain great posture. At a minimum, stretch throughout the day so you don’t get sore or hinder your quality of life.

Eat Healthy Meals & Snacks

Another work from home reality is that we have full access to the kitchen. So, when it’s time for lunch or a snack break, we are immediately drawn to the usual snacks, such as chips, cookies, or leftover pizza, however, research has shown that eating fruits and vegetables has a direct link on overall productivity levels.

Take Breaks

Although taking breaks might seem counterproductive, research has shown that taking short breaks can actually increase productivity and creativity levels. If you don’t have a work-life balance, then you risk burnout.

Stay Off Social Media

Social media can be a giant time-suck if you aren’t careful. Minimizing mindless use of social media helps avoid distractions, so you can focus on getting more done.

Listen to Music

Depending on the nature of your work, it helps to turn on some background music.

Step Outside

Since you’ll be cooped up indoors to work, many of us often forget that there’s an outside world out there. Open some windows to let sunlight in and take some time throughout your day to go outside – at least to your patio or backyard.

We hope you are staying safe and healthy during this crisis.