Working from home can be a challenge, so here are a few ideas to increase your productivity
Working from home can seem like a dream come true at first; saving time and money commuting to and from the office can instantly make you feel like you have more hours in the day, not to mention the cost savings. On the other hand, working from home can also invite procrastination too, and most people who try this method of working will soon learn that a strict routine is an absolute must if they are to remain productive throughout the day.
If you have the house to yourself, congratulations – you have one of the first significant pitfalls dealt with already. Spending more time with your significant other or children is always great initially, but it’s difficult to avoid being distracted when other people in the house are loud, lively or invasive. You might even find that your new working arrangements can put a strain on your family or friendship relationships, so you need to make sure the other people in your home understand and respect when you are working and when you are free to chat or have fun.
The same goes for friends and your extended family. Just because you are home-based does not mean that you are available for social calls or advice whenever they feel the need. Make it clear to everyone in your circle that you are not to be disturbed during office hours.
The majority of the new jobs worked from home are computer-based, but whatever it is you are doing, you must be comfortable and have all of the tools you need to work effectively close by.
Get Your Software Right
Just like your mobile phone, your computer probably bombards you with constant notifications regarding e-mails, Facebook messages, new videos from your favourite Youtubers, and who knows how many more distractions. That doesn’t make for an ideal work environment, and Microsoft has implemented a ‘Pause Notifications’ feature to help with this.
If you have an Android smartphone running the latest version of that software, you might have used its ‘Focus Mode’, which goes a step further by blocking access to everything but applications you require for your work during specified working hours. This feature is also available on the latest Chromebook computers and is much more effective than the Windows version.
You should also avoid any fun or distracting services on a computer you only plan on using for work. Prominent examples would be gambling and casinos, streaming services, gaming platforms and table casino games.
If you only have one computer, then consider setting up multiple user accounts, with a main account for work and additional profiles for when you want to play games, visit an online casino or anything else.
Creating Your Perfect Working Environment
If you have a whole room you can dedicate to a home office, again, consider yourself lucky – this is a luxury many people do not have. Some particular jobs may be suitable working from an outbuilding of some kind, perhaps a shed or a garage. Such positions have the added advantage of keeping you out of the way of the other people in your home as well. Let’s be honest, though – unless you are working for yourself, most of the jobs you will find where working from home is an option in 2024 will involve working at a computer.
Whether you are working from a corner in your living room, the worktop in your kitchen, or a dedicated home office, finding an ideal chair should be your number one priority. If you are going to be spending your entire day typing at a computer, then making sure you are physically comfortable could be more severe than you realize – it could even affect your health.
You should spend as much as you can on a decent quality chair – and try not to be tempted by the idea of typing on the sofa. While it looks great on Instagram, sofa working is a fast route to a life of hunching and eventual back pain, as well as an inevitable sluggish approach to your tasks.
You will need a decent mouse and keyboard, as well as a desk in most cases to go with your chair, and those four items along with your computer can get very expensive, very quickly. In many cases your employer will pick up the bill. And if you work for yourself, those items are all, of course, allowable expenses against your tax bill.
The trick to effective and successful working from home is to get those basics right. When you can manage the people around you, get the right kit in place and make sure that your work place is healthy and safe, then you will be ready to work just as, if not more, effectively than you ever could from an office block.