Whether you’ve been working from home for 20-plus years or the COVID-19 pandemic has made it your reality for the first time, the truth is it’s not easy. Particularly when you have a small living space and kids staying home throughout the day, the never-ending household tasks and interruptions make it very challenging to stay focused.
That said, there are several benefits to enjoy if you take steps to stay motivated and productive, such as flexibility, freedom, and a better work-life balance. To give you some ideas, we at County Cottage Realty have assembled a few practical tips.
Don’t multitask.
First of all, it’s important to evaluate your workspace. Does it provide you with enough separation from high-traffic areas in your home? Most distractions that happen when working from home come from having your work area in the living room, at the kitchen bar, or somewhere else near the main living areas.
Rather than leave yourself vulnerable to all kinds of interruptions throughout the day, consider creating a home office in the spare bedroom, garage, or basement if you haven’t already. This will lower the likelihood that you have to multitask during work hours, which kills creativity, disrupts concentration, and causes stress.
If only simple improvements like painting and decorating are needed for your home office, you may be able to do them yourself. However, if the improvements are more involved , you may want to consider hiring a professional contractor.
Invest in good equipment.
No matter what size of home office or workspace you have, you need good equipment. Make sure you have a desk that holds any items that you need within reach while leaving you enough surface area to work comfortably. Look into quality ergonomic chairs that can keep you feeling comfortable and healthy on long workdays. Get a reliable laptop or desktop computer if you don’t already have one. And rather than using overhead lighting, opt for desk lamps and floor lamps that can provide you with more focused lighting where you need it.
Moreover, consider how you can make the most of your limited space. For example, adding shelves to your walls or building an adaptable storage wall can provide you with ample storage, and eliminate the need to buy cabinets, bookshelves, or other bulky items.
Find the tools you need.
Along with getting good equipment, research the many tools on the market that can help you succeed at working from home. For example, communication apps (e.g., Slack, Google Hangouts, Zoom, etc.) can help you stay connected with team members and clients. Project management software (e.g., Zoho Projects, LiquidPlanner, GanttPro, etc.) can help you and anyone you work with stay accountable and meet your goals. And if you run a business, utilizing the right accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage Accounting, FreshBooks, etc.) can do wonders for helping you manage your money.
Clock out.
Finally, you will want to establish consistent work hours and ensure that everyone in your household understands when they can and cannot interrupt you. However, this goes both ways. When your work hours are done for the day, shut down your programs and equipment, and mentally clock out. When working from home, it’s tempting to sneak into your workspace after hours to finish something up or sketch an idea; but this can easily lead to burnout and take away from quality time spent with your family.
Working from home can yield a number of benefits, but you must be diligent about staying motivated and focused in order to succeed on a daily basis. Remember to set your workspace up away from primary living areas, and avoid multitasking. Get all the equipment and tools you need, and clock out each day when you’ve completed your work hours. Implementing these tips will go a long way in helping you enjoy long-term success working from home.
Are you needing to purchase a new home for your business or personal needs? You can contact County Cottage Realty through live chat, email, or phone.
