Whether you have spent years working from home or this is new to you, staying productive can be challenging. Plus, there is a thin line separating work life and family life.
That said, here are eight productivity tips that can help you achieve work-life balance:
Start Your Day Early
One of the work-from-home perks is that you can start work whenever you feel like it. Nonetheless, it would be best to start your day early.
That does not mean you have to be part of the 5 AM Club, but doing so lets you maximize your day.
Have a Morning Ritual
Aside from making the most of your day, you need to have a sense of normalcy while working from home. And one of the ways to do that is to set a morning routine.
Your morning routine can include waking up like usual, taking a bath, having your breakfast, and dressing up as if you were going out to work.
If you tend to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes before starting the day, so be it. What’s important is that you get the right mindset so that you can boost your productivity.
Dedicate a Suitable Workspace
One thing that blurs the line between work and life is your workspace. Hence, it is essential to have a dedicated workspace.
It can be a spare room, an awkward corner in your living room, or an unused table you placed near a window. No matter where it is, your workspace should house all your equipment. It should also be a space where you can work undisturbed.
Lastly, only use this space for work—no lunch break and binge-watching on your work computer.
Manage Your Day
Now that you have a suitable workspace, the next step is to manage your day. It can be as simple as using task management apps to update your to-do list every morning.
Task management apps let you keep track of what you need to do for the day. Thus, you are on top of your priorities and deadlines.
However, there are other ways you can manage your day. Some prefer to do bullet journaling to organize their tasks, some use Google calendar, some use their smartphones.
The key here is to look for task management tools and techniques that will work well for you.
Specify Your Work Hours
With your day organized and laid out, you should specify when you should do your tasks.
Sure, working from home means flexible work hours. But it does not mean you can spend all 24 hours just working. You still need to eat, take a break, sleep, rest, and spend time with your family.
Thus, the rule of thumb is to spend the bulk of your workload when you feel more productive.
If you are a content writer who feels more creative in the morning, you should consider writing a lot in the morning. You can then spend the afternoon on ad-hoc tasks, like scheduling social media posts or responding to emails.
Stand Up and Stretch
As mentioned earlier, you should include breaks and rest time in your work hours. After all, we tend to sit for hours when working.
Mind you, sitting for long periods can lead to heart disease and weight gain (especially in your mid-section).
To mitigate that, CUErgo recommends having a workspace that promotes good posture (standing desk). You should also stand up every 20 – 30 minutes to stretch.
Taking at least 30 minutes to walk around the house can also help.
Know When to Clock Out
When working from home, it is vital to know when you should clock out. Turning off your desktop computer or laptop and not thinking about work is essential to achieve work-life balance.
If you find it challenging to do, we suggest developing a “clock out phrase.” Think of it as a mantra that you say to yourself to signal your brain that you are done with work.
Another tip is to write whatever work-related stuff is bothering you. That way, you can clear your head and tell your brain that you will deal with these things the following workday.
Lastly, you have to be deliberate when clocking out. Telling yourself that you are done for the day is one thing. Turning off and staying away from your computer is another.
Clean and Declutter Your Workspace
Once you shut down your computer, do not forget to clean your workspace. Doing so allows you to start the following workday afresh.
As the Planet Maids Cleaning Services NYC people point out, clutter and mess can inhibit your productivity.
For one, clutter makes it cumbersome to look for things when you need them. Imagine having to spend five minutes looking for a pen. If your work desk is clutter-free, you could have used that five minutes to pick the pen, sign a document, and put back the pen.
Simply put, an organized workspace reduces work-related stress. Hence, take a couple of minutes of your day to clean and declutter your workspace.
Conclusion: Get Rid of “Work Creep”
When working from home, your career can invade your personal life. But it can only happen if you let it.
The tips listed above can help prevent that from happening. As a result, you can be productive and achieve a work-life balance while working from home.
Guest post by Andrew Chu