If you’re used to working in an office, your day might already be planned out. You have coworkers for social interaction. And maybe your boss is around to give you accountability.
BUT, as millions of people are finding out — working from home is very different. Getting work done without the help and support you normally get from your co-workers could be a challenge.
Try these techniques to stay motivated and be productive:
Wake up early. Think of it like this: When you’re working from home, you’re still going to work, but the commute to your desk is much shorter. Set your alarm and make an effort to get up and get ready for an early start.
● You may find that you’re more productive earlier in the day, as your mind may be sharper. When you first wake up, take a whiff of Peppermint essential oil to help clear the brain fog, if you’re not a morning person.
Get dressed. However tempting it is to work in a pair of comfortable sweatpants or pajamas, you may be more productive in regular clothes. Seriously — put on some real clothes.
● Research has shown that how you dress sends psychological signals, so if you want to get work done, it’s important to dress appropriately.
Have your own workspace. Setting aside a regular space to work sends a signal to your brain to work whenever you’re in your workspace. Plus, having your own workspace will help keep distractions to a minimum.
Create a schedule. A work schedule also helps to motivate you, get you going each morning, and be more productive while you work. With a schedule, you’ll know what to get started on the moment you sit down to work. Then, you can depend on it to guide you throughout the rest of the day.
● Your schedule will depend on your own job, but, for example, if you were a blogger, you might write in the morning, before editing and posting the content in the afternoon.
Take time to exercise. Set aside some time each day to get some exercise. Regular exercise is good for both your body and mind.
● Most office jobs are pretty sedentary but working from home may be even worse. After all, you only need to travel a few feet to visit the restroom. With this in mind, it’s important to ensure that you take extra care to look after your physical needs.
Reward yourself. Since you’re working from home, it would be easy to just sit in front of the television all day and not get any work done. But for obvious reasons this is not the best idea. You can bypass such temptations by using rewards to increase productivity.
● For instance, you could work for two hours straight and then reward yourself with a short, 30-minute episode of your favorite show.
Go outside. Not leaving your house for days on end can negatively impact your mental health. Not only is sunlight good for your health but seeing others (from a safe distance!) is important too.
● Your mood will be uplifted, and you’ll get more work done after a short break for getting out into nature and socializing with others. If you can’t get outside because of weather, diffuse your favorite citrus oil, like Wild Orange or Elevation, to boost your mood inside.
Avoid social media. If you find yourself browsing Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram instead of working, you can take steps to avoid these distractions.
● Try deleting these bookmarks from your browser or installing a plugin that will block you from visiting those sites.
● Turning off notifications on your smartphone while you work also helps to stop distractions. I am a HUGE fan of the mute function on my FB Messenger app.
Working from home isn’t for everyone, but if you love the freedom of making your own schedule, then you may love it.
Follow these tips and you’ll be able to stay motivated, maintain discipline, and get all of your work done while not heading into an office building. Who knows how long you will have to do it, but you might as well stay sane.
