How to Stay Productive Working From Home [7 Tips To Get More Done]

Working from home has become the norm for many of us in recent times. While the flexibility and comfort of being in our own space can be a blessing, it can also be difficult to stay focused and productive working from home.

With so many distractions around us, it's important to have a plan and a set of strategies in place to make the most of our time at home.

I work from home myself almost exclusively now for the past few years, and in this article, I will share some tips and tricks that I have found for staying productive and achieving more at home, so that you can make the most of your time and be successful in your work and personal life.

Create a Dedicated Workspace

One of the most important things you can do to stay productive at home is to create a dedicated workspace. This can be a separate room, a corner of a room, or even just a small desk. The key is to have a designated area where you can focus on your work without distractions.

When setting up your workspace, make sure to choose a location that is quiet and free from distractions. Also, make sure that your workspace is well-lit and comfortable, with all the tools and equipment you need to do your work.

This helps your brain to get into 'work mode' when you get into your work space, but also, I always found the hardest part was switching off at the end of the day. Having a dedicated work area allows you to do that as it helps to separate 'work' time from 'you' time.

Set a Schedule

Another important aspect of staying productive at home is setting a schedule. Having a set schedule allows you to structure your day, and helps you to stay focused and on task.

When setting a schedule, it's important to start with your most important tasks, and then work your way down to the less important ones. This helps you to stay focused and avoid procrastination.

It's also important to schedule in breaks throughout the day, to give yourself time to rest and recharge. This will help you to stay fresh and focused, and will also prevent burnout.

This also helps if you need to split your time between multiple tasks or projects as you can plan dedicated times for working around meetings, chores and school runs!

Use whatever works best for you, but I like to use an excel sheet since it's easy to set up and adaptable to your needs - You can download a copy of my excel weekly planner here to get you going.

Eliminate Distractions

One of the biggest obstacles to staying productive at home is distractions. Whether it's social media, email, or other distractions, it's important to eliminate these distractions as much as possible.

One way to do this is to use a program like Freedom, which blocks distracting websites and apps for a set amount of time. This can help you to stay focused and on task, without the constant interruptions of notifications and pop-ups.

Another way to eliminate distractions, and my personal favorite, is to use a good set of noise-cancelling headphones, which work really well to block out background noise and distractions. You can even double the effect by listening to some calming binaural beats or nature sounds to go full-on focus psycho mode!

Stay Organized

Staying organized is another key component of staying productive at home. Having a clear and organized workspace can help you to stay focused and on task, and will also make it easier to find what you need when you need it.

One way to stay organized is to use a planner or calendar to keep track of your tasks and deadlines. This can help you to stay on top of your work and make sure that you're meeting all of your deadlines.

If you are running a busy schedule, one way to stay organized is to use a task management app, such as Trello, which allows you to keep track of your tasks and progress in one place.

Prioritize Self-Care

While it's important to stay productive and focused on your work, it's also crucial to prioritize self-care. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is essential for staying motivated, energized, and productive in the long term.

Some of the ways to prioritize self-care is to make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and staying physically active. Exercise can help to boost your energy levels, improve your mood, and keep your mind sharp.

Another important aspect of self-care is to make time for activities that you enjoy and that bring you happiness and relaxation. This can include hobbies, reading, listening to music, or spending time with loved ones.

Just be sure to make time for yourself - when working from home, it's so easy to get drawn into a task with an approaching deadline and forget what time it is, next thing you know it's 2 in the morning and you haven't moved off the computer for 16 hours... been there, done that - not doing it again!

Optimize your Workflow

Staying productive while working at home also means optimizing your workflow. By streamlining your work processes, you can work more efficiently, save time, and reduce stress.

You can optimize your workflow by using productivity tools, such as time tracking apps, task managers, and project management software. These tools can help you to stay on top of your tasks, track your progress, and collaborate with your team more effectively.

Another way to optimize your workflow is to automate repetitive tasks, such as scheduling social media posts, sending emails, and data entry. This can save you time and energy, and allow you to focus on more important tasks.

Always try to not have to do the same task twice, if you can automate it the first time you do it, you will save a tonne of time in the long run.

There are some great apps available - you would be surprised what's out there. Too many to list here for all the different applications, but check out sites like Zapier and IFTT for some cool time saving, automation apps.

Communicate Effectively

Ahh, the art of communication...

Working from home also requires mega effective communication with your colleagues and team members. With everyone working remotely, it can be easy to feel disconnected and isolated - especially if, like me, you work freelance and so work for different companies (sometimes foreign) with people you don't know.

To combat this and ensure the team stays productive when working from home, make sure to schedule regular team meetings and check-ins so everyone doesn't seem that far away. This can help to keep everyone on the same page, and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.

It's also important to use effective communication tools, such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration software. These tools can help to keep everyone connected and informed, even when working remotely. 

Things like Teams, Zoom, Skype and Google Meet make this super easy and they constantly getting improved features added, such as virtual meeting rooms and automated note taking - be sure to check them out!

Prioritize your tasks

Make a to-do list and prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadline. 

Prioritizing tasks helps you to focus on the most important and urgent tasks first, ensuring that you are making the most of your time. To incorporate this into your daily routine, make a list of tasks at the beginning of each day or week, and prioritize them based on their due date and level of importance.

Personally, I recommend setting 3 must-do goals per day, with an additional 2 nice to have. I find this a good balance alongside everything else that is going on!

Write them down and scrub them off as you go - after all, the best part about making a list is to scrub stuff out once you have done it, right?

Take breaks

Take regular breaks to stretch your legs, grab a snack, or simply step away from the screen. Taking regular breaks can help to refresh your mind, reduce fatigue and increase productivity. 

You can only focus for so long so it's best to work in blocks of undistracted focused work time, split up by short breaks - it works great for productivity.

To incorporate this into your daily routine, set a timer for 25 minutes of focused work and then take a five-minute break, and repeat this cycle throughout the day.

Check out the online Pomodoro timer to help you with his.

Make time for physical activity

Regular exercise can help boost energy and focus, so try to incorporate it into your daily working from home routine. 

Physical activity can help to improve mental and physical well-being, reduce stress and increase productivity. 

Try to get in some form of physical activity like going for a walk, doing yoga or a workout, even a short one, during your lunch break or before/after work.

You could even double this up with the Pomodoro technique, working for 25 minutes then 5 minutes of exercise - how's that for efficiency?

Set boundaries

When you are working from home, it's important to set clear boundaries with your family and friends about when you are working and when you are available. 

Setting boundaries can help to create a separation between work and personal life, which can reduce stress and increase productivity. 

Let your friends and family know your working hours and schedule, and make sure to disconnect from work during non-working hours - this goes hand-in-hand with having a dedicated work space.

Reward yourself

Give yourself small rewards for completing tasks or reaching goals to help stay motivated. 

Rewards can help to increase motivation and improve overall well-being. Try setting small goals for yourself throughout the day and reward yourself with something you enjoy once you have completed them, whether it's taking a short break, treating yourself to a snack or watching a favorite show.

In effect, you are your own boss now you are working from home, so it's up to you to make sure you get stuff done, but likewise, it's also up to you to make sure you reward your team (i.e. you) for doing well!

Conclusion

Working from home can be challenging - it requires a different set of skills and strategies than working in an office. 

But, by implementing the right systems you can make the most of your time, stay focused and be productive in your work whilst maintaining a good work-life balance. 

By following these tips and strategies, you'll be able to achieve more, and thrive while working from home, and make working from home, work for you!

Let me know in the comments if you found any of these useful... what tips do you have for staying productive when working from home? I'd love to here them!