Work From Home Tips
Latter-day Woman Team
One effect of the coronavirus pandemic has been a huge increase in the number of Americans working from home. In fact, the number of people working from home grew 159% in 2020. Many of these people are parents, sharing workspace with their children who are trying to do homework remotely. It can be a tricky situation for everyone. So how can you be most efficient while working from home? Here are some tips.
HAVE A MORNING ROUTINE & STICK TO IT
This is probably one of the most important tips of all tips! Having a morning routine can help to kick start your day, in a productive and positive way! There are so many things you can add to your morning routine to help make sure that your day is off to a good start.
KEEP AS LITTLE ON TOP OF YOUR DESK AS POSSIBLE
Your desktop is a work surface, not a storage cupboard, so the rule of thumb is to store nothing on it. Keep an image of a clear desktop in your mind when you start storing things. People who do so usually finish with only a laptop and an ornament or potted plant on their desk.
OPEN YOUR BLINDS/CURTAINS
There is nothing more motivating than some sunlight. I don’t know about you but if my space is dark, I feel unmotivated and sleepy! I always feel refreshed and ready to go when my home is bright with some sunlight. Wake up and open those curtains.
ORGANIZE WITH STORAGE CONTAINERS
Use small boxes that you already have to store things, whether this is kept on your desk’s surface or inside the drawers. The box keeps them from disintegrating into an anonymous heap and lets you see at a glance where things are. Try recycling business card boxes, or perhaps an old smartphone package that you’ve kept around over the years.
CREATE A MOTIVATING SPACE
Having a space in your home that’s specifically made for you to sit and work quietly. Have a simple desk
SEPARATE YOUR WORK LIFE FROM YOUR PERSONAL LIFE
If some of your books and documents are work-related while others are not, identify only the work-related items for now and focus on tidying them, leaving personal items for a later date when you are ready to tidy your home.
CREATE AN IDEAS PIN IT BOARD
I am a huge fan of sticky notes & bulletin boards. I always find that it motivates me in a way. One thing that I LOVE to do is have a bulletin board in my office space. Any time an idea comes to mind I will take a colored sticky note, write down my idea & pin it to my bulletin board. At the end of the month I come back to my bulletin board, take all of my ideas & figure out how to utilize them that month!
DON’T RESPOND TO EVERY SINGLE EMAIL
When you respond to an email, it leaves a window open for another incoming response, which you will then feel obligated to respond to—and the cycle keeps going. Only send emails that are necessary to get work done, and use CCing and “Reply All” sparingly. You’ll also set a good example for others by sending only the emails necessary to get work done. And by sending fewer emails, you’ll likely get fewer responses.
ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS
This is probably the hardest thing to do when you are working from home but it’s crucial! When it’s time to work…it’s time to work!!
PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE… even if you have to put your phone in a separate room. Whatever it may be, don’t let it distract you from working!
TURN OFF THE NOISE… Don’t have your tv on while working (this causes distraction). Try not to have music or any noise while working (unless it’s music that helps focus you). I also recommend investing in noise canceling headphones.
WORK LATE OR EARLY HOURS…If you have children, it’s best to work when they are napping, or still asleep. I know this is tough but you will get the most work done while the little ones aren’t distracting. So if that means you have a late night, it might just have to be that way. AND make the most of nap time!
MAKE TIME FOR DAILY REFLECTION
In order to properly manage your time and achieve work-life balance, you need to check in with yourself. Set aside some time every day for honest self-reflection. Ask yourself why you are working, what you hope to achieve though your work, and what your ideal work life is. Prioritize all your current tasks and decide what can wait, then eliminate unnecessary and unproductive tasks, so you can give your time and energy to the right things.