In the past year, most of us have had to tangle with working from home in some capacity. While many miss the office and long for the days of water cooler chit-chat, others have flourished in their sweatpants. Even before in more normal times, many workers were opting out of the office. Writers, graphic designers, and even people working for stock picking companies were beginning to choose jobs that would let them work from home. The key difference between those struggling and those who are adapting well is strategy. Effective home workers set up their lives and spaces to get the most out of working from home. Whether you love the work-from-home life or are still learning the pros and cons, here are some strategies that boost productivity.
Create Separate Work and Home Spaces
One of the most difficult parts of working from home is switching from your relaxed home mode to work mode. One of the reasons people feel more productive in the office than at home is that the office is a completely different space from home, and that puts them in a working mindset. In order to simulate this “different space” mode at home, dedicate a space in your home to work. A separate room for work is ideal, but I’ve seen many effective work corners, home cubicles, and even converted loft beds serving as at-home working centers. The trick is to have it set up, so you can comfortably do your job tasks in that space and then dedicate yourself to working in that space. Don’t waste your time making a perfectly nice work corner by then working on the couch!
Have a Morning Routine
Just as it is important to maintain regular work hours, it is just as crucial to have a routine that gets you from bed to the home office. Most people like to start their day with the basics: coffee, breakfast, and a shower. In addition to the standard working in the office morning routine, you may want to incorporate some light exercise, such as yoga or tai chi, into your work from home morning routine. You have more time now that you aren’t commuting, but you’re also getting less exercise not moving, so it’s good to make up the difference by adding in some movement to the morning. An effective morning routine can greatly help to clear your mind and get you geared up to focus on the tasks ahead.
Wear a Work Shirt
Make sure that getting dressed is part of your morning routine. While you may not be in Zoom meetings all day, it is still important to wear a proper work shirt. A Northwestern University study concluded that participants who wore a lab coat performed better on cognitive tests than people wearing plain clothes or a different job uniform. It seems that simply wearing certain clothes made people better at performing tasks. The same principle applies to working from home. You want to put on at least a work shirt. If you can’t take yourself seriously in sweatpants, put on some slacks too.
Hold Boundaries With Household Members
Just because you’re in your flow working from home doesn’t mean everyone else in the home understands that! Spouses, children, roommates, and even pets can all have trouble grasping the fact that “work from home” means working at home, and not getting paid to goof off all day. Tell everyone in your household that when you are in your working space, you are not to be disturbed. Since pets cannot be negotiated with as easily, you might have to put them in a separate room or outside while you work. If you live in a noisy household, investing in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones can help maintain that boundary around work. You don’t have the separation of a building to keep the boundary around work, so you will have to enforce it yourself.
Prioritize Daily Tasks
The first thing you want to do when you start your workday is exactly the same as in the office: prioritize what tasks need to be done today. Typically, the most time-sensitive tasks need to be done first, then whatever’s most crucial. If there are Zoom meetings that day, make sure to note when it is and set an alarm to remind you if need be, since no coworkers will bother you in your cubicle to attend a meeting you forgot. Most effective home workers have a whiteboard or calendar in their work area, so they can write down deadlines and make daily to-do lists. Remember, when you work from home, it’s all on you to set an effective schedule.
Incorporate Chores Into Breaks
For those who work in an office, housework can be an entirely dreadful second job on top of work. For those who work from home, chores can be a welcome change of pace. After completing a mentally taxing work task, get up and do a quick chore somewhere in the house. Following mentally taxing tasks with an easy, but kind of boring task can re-energize the mind. Also, when you finish work it’s easier to relax because your home is clean. Remember how much time you used to waste going to the water cooler and back just to clear your head when working? Now you can turn that much-needed mental break into a task that makes it easier to relax later.
Bottom Line
Whether you love working from home or yearn to return to the office, more and more companies are looking into continuing remote work as part of how modern companies function. Learning to establish your work from home flow can not only maximize your current productivity, it can also teach you how to best adapt to a changing economy. Whether you want to be a writer or work for stock picking companies, it is in your best interest to learn how to effectively work from home. The future is calling– will you answer?