Ahhh, working from home. Sounds like the dream, doesn’t it? No boss staring over your shoulder, flexible work hours … working in your pyjamas!! As great as these benefits are, though, there are some obstacles that can arise when you have a home office; the main one being staying on track.
I mean – this is often hard enough to do in a regular work place, let alone at home with all those distractions just waiting to happen! And if you work for yourself, like I do, it’s even harder because you have to hold yourself accountable. Luckily there are a few “policies” you can put in place to ensure you’re able to be your most productive self – and after all, the more efficiently you work, the more guilt-free leisure time you have!
Start early
I know, it’s so tempting to just hit snooze and roll over, right? But think of it like going to the gym – getting there is the hardest part, once you’re there you’re usually ok. The same goes for work; once you get started and in your groove, you’ll be away and laughing. So it’s best to get into that groove as soon as possible!
Make each your To Do list the day before
At the end of each day, spend five minutes writing out a quick list of all the things you need to tackle the next day. Depending on what will work best for you, you can either list them by importance (get the “must do” items checked off first), or by time needed (ie. shortest tasks first to get them out of the way). That way, you can crack into work as soon as you’ve clocked in. Trello, Asana, and Quip are all excellent apps that you can use to organise your projects and To Do lists if you prefer to have everything in digital form.
Stay off the social media!
This is hard for those of us who use social media in their jobs. I think we all know the scenario – log on to check one thing, then 10 minutes later we’re still mindlessly scrolling looking at memes or swiping through Insta stories. If you must be on social media, have your tasks listed right beside you, and stay off your personal timeline. Set a timer if you need to, to check in and make sure you’re tracking along with what you’re actually meant to be doing.
Turn off the tv
Although background noise can be good, TV has a way of drawing you in (I always look up when Jeremy Kyle is yelling “put something on the end of it!”). Not only can this disrupt your train of thought, but it can draw you in (who’s needing to put something on the end of it?! IS IT HIS BABY??). If you’re like me and have a bit of a guilty pleasure for daytime TV, plan your lunch break for around this time (or if you want to be really fancy, record the episode on MySky, then you don’t have to sit through ads!). For background music, pop on the radio or your favourite Spotify playlist – that’s much less distracting.
Make a list of your goals and display it somewhere you can see it
This is especially important if you’re self-employed! Make a vision board or poster of your goals and when you want to achieve them by. Make it eye catching and inspiring, so that you’re drawn to look at it often. This is a great way to motivate yourself to stay on track, both daily and in the long term.
Obstacles and distractions aside, working from home has some amazing benefits – how effective you are is up to you!
Do you work from home? What’s your biggest distraction?
See more:
Written by Bunny T
A mama of two who advocates for mental health awareness (yes girl!), Bunny is a badass babe blogging about womanhood, motherhood and the adventures that happen in between. You’ll usually find her exercising (running after kids), partying (drinking coffee) and rocking out (sleeping).
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.