My Top tips for Working from Home, Part II
Up-date your to do list
every morning to keep on top of and on track with schedules and projects. It can be challenging when you don’t have the boss or colleagues around and easy to lose sight of priorities and deadlines. When you make your to do list, stick to it, because it can be so tempting to go straight to emails. Set goals and time limits for each task. When completed cross it off the list. This simple technique is both effective and fulfilling.
Working from home
gives us full access to the kitchen. So when it’s time for lunch or a snack, don’t be tempted with crisps or other unhealthy snacks. Research has shown that eating fruit and vegetables has a direct link on overall productivity levels. With a little extra planning, working from home can be an ideal opportunity to start eating more healthily. Save treats for the end of the week.
Invest in a good
pair of headphones, a microphone and a camera. If your work involves a lot of video calls/conferencing its important that you are heard and seen and you can hear. Also check your background. There is nothing more unprofessional than an unprofessional background.
Limit Social Media.
It can be a massive time drain if you are not careful. Turn off the social media notifications to minimise mindless use of social medial and help avoid distractions so you can focus on getting more done.
Take your lunch break.
I was guilty of not taking a break when I first started working from home, in fact I hardly every did when I worked in the corporate world. Honestly, I was not doing myself a favour at all. The mind needs a distraction/break and the body needs to move. Again research has shown that having a break increases productivity and creativity.
Schedule personal appointments
in your lunch break. It can be very easy working from home to just pop out for an errand. Structuring your day is so important, especially if you struggle staying on task.
Discover your productivity period.
Every individual is most productive at different times of the day. For example, some individuals are morning people, and they are most productive and focused during the morning hours. For others, their most productive time in the workday is the evenings.
Listen to Music.
Match the music to the task in hand. Powering through your emails, a long document to read and amend, creating a new timetable etc, writing a pitch for new business or preparing a presentation for your boss.
Fight the urge to multitask.
It might seem a convenient time to catch up on jobs around the house, but it is easier than you’d expect to get distracted. There is nothing wrong with taking a little break, in fact it is highly encouraged, but don’t allow jobs to distract you from being productive.
Pick a definite finishing time.
Be careful with the assumption that home working establishes more work/life balance. Being in a relaxing environment, you can get so caught up in your work, that you lose track of time. Also not seeing colleagues leaving the office at the end of the day you don’t get that reminder that it is the end of the day. Set an alarm for the end of your day and make all effort to adhere to it.
I’d love to know how you get on. Let me know.
With love,
If you’d like more information, grab a cuppa and hop on a no-obligation call to find out how I can help and, more importantly, if I’m the right person for you and if you’d like to browse my free downloads and products click here
Love
Marie xox