06.15.07
Staying Productive While Working From Home
Anyone who works from a home office can tell you it can be challenging — especially as the weather gets nicer and the household chores pile up around you. It’s often easier than you think to get sidetracked from your work. What can you do to remain focused?
- Kick off the house slippers. If you do not meet with clients on a daily basis, it can be tempting to hangout all day in your p.j.’s and house slippers. Fight the urge! Keep to a morning routine as if you were leaving the house for the office. Get dressed, have breakfast, kiss your significant other and kids goodbye and head off to wherever your dedicated work space might be.
- A workspace to call your own. Having a dedicated work area that you call your own is important. If you have set up a home office, that’s great. If you lack the space to do so, at least lay claim to a corner or desk somewhere in your home that is off limits to others.
- Get organized and stay on schedule. Each day, lay out your “to do” list and schedule. If you have kids, know when the best time is that you might be able to squeak out a few hours of quite time and plan accordingly. If you have to run errands, try and plan them in at the end of your day and knock off a little early instead of at the start of your day or during. Disruptions at the beginning of the day and throughout tend to leave you lacking in motivation when you return to the office or feeling rushed to get it all done. By planning your day, each day, you will force yourself to focus and be more productive.
