The current global state has led a record-breaking number of workers to transition to work from home indefinitely. But while some shifted to remote working environments with ease, many found working “from the comforts of home” a little too comfortable. The lines between work and play began to blur, and the already elusive concept of work-life balance became even more impossible to grasp. Here are our top tips for maximizing your productivity as you embrace a digital lifestyle:
1. Stick to a schedule
Whether you’re a home-based entrepreneur or a remote employee, allowing yourself too much flexibility may hurt your productivity if you’re not careful. Flexibility and procrastination often find themselves colliding with one another as you justify that you can put off your work since you control your own time anyway.
The key to avoiding this scenario is to maintain consistent working hours. You may decide to stick to a conventional 9-5 schedule or establish your own hours – the point is to use those hours and devote them to work.
If you don’t live alone, remember to let the other people who live in your home know about your schedule. Establish ground rules and make it clear when you’re not to be disturbed or how they should behave if you’re attending a virtual conference.
2. Get ready for work
Whether the schedule you choose means working right after breakfast or later at night, a secret to productivity is your mindset. And the best way to get your mind focused for work is by getting ready for work. This means not wearing the pajamas you slept in to also work in. Why? Staying in your sleepwear will only remind you of sleep. This is not to say that you can’t wear anything that’s just as comfortable. The point is to prepare for the “day.” It could be as simple as taking a shower, doing your makeup, or stretching.
3. Have a dedicated workspace
Some think that the beauty of remote working is the ability to work anytime and from anywhere. While this is true to an extent, this thinking can also hamper productivity. The biggest problem with choosing random places to work is that they’re often filled with distraction. Kitchens, for example, are one of the areas in a home with the highest traffic and, therefore, be the most distracting as people come and go. The living room may have a television that you’ll be tempted to turn on.
If you don’t have a room that you can convert into a home office, you should at least have a space that fits all your work-related hardware. Since this will most likely include your laptop or tablet, you can even set up your workspace on your balcony or outdoor garden. Remember, wherever you choose to work, it should be accessible to power outlets.
Also, natural lighting is best for productivity. You’ll also need a chair comfortable for you to sit in for hours, especially if the schedule you decide to keep means you’ll be at your workspace for a typical 8-hour shift.
Let’s talk more about how to maintain a productive digital lifestyle. If you’re also looking for new business opportunities while working from home, feel free to contact us!
