Working from Home? 10 Useful Tips to Enhance Your Productivity

Are you a freelancer? Have you recently started working from home because of the COVID-19 outbreak? Either way, working from home is a distinct experience from working in an office setting. Remote working eliminates the time, energy and money spent on commuting. But it comes with its own set of difficulties. For one, you might have a screaming toddler or a needy pet asking for attention.

If you’re struggling with this transition and your productivity is taking a hit, check out our top tips for working remotely without any major issues.

Create a ‘Workstation’ area

Do you tend to work on your bed? This habit is not only costing your productivity but also impacting your quality of sleep. Even if you live in a tiny apartment, find a corner to create a workstation area. It could be anything from a kitchen counter or a coffee table. 

Keep Your Workspace Clean and Tidy

Before you start working, make sure your space is clean and organised. Declutter and store away all unnecessary items to avoid distractions.

Upgrade Your Internet Plan

If you’re working from home, it’s likely that you’ll require a strong internet connection to collaborate and communicate with your co-workers. Before, you had the option of relying on your office WiFi or popping into a cafe and using their internet. You should look for a plan that meets your internet requirements.

Take a Look at Your Energy Plan

If you’re quarantining in Australia, you’ll be spending the majority of your time indoors. This means there will be a noticeable increase in your energy bills. This is a suitable time to shop around for an affordable energy plan. Check out Origin Energy plans that are competitively priced.

Stick to a Routine

As you’re working from home, it’s okay to sleep in a bit and start your day later than usual. But this doesn’t imply waking up at noon! Try your best to maintain some normalcy by sticking to a routine. Wake up early, make yourself a cup of coffee and eat breakfast. It will fuel you mentally and physically!

Get Ready for the Day

One of the perks of working from home is staying in your comfy PJs. But that won’t be helpful when you’re working from home for weeks. You can still dress comfortably but take a shower and change your clothes every morning, kep up your working habit and make the switch from home to work mindset.

Limit Phone Use

Without any co-worker to talk to, you might feel the need to constantly check your messages and scroll through your social media. It’s alright to check your phone a few times. But are you using your phone too much? Keep your phone at least a few feet away so that you’d have to get up every time to check it. 

Play White Noise

These uncertain times can seem especially difficult if you live by yourself. To create an office-like environment, play some white noise in the background while working. There are websites available that recreate a workplace with audio stimulations. Or you can play a non-distracting show on low volume.

Remember to Take Breaks

When you’re by yourself, it’s easy to lose track of time. Put alarms on your phone to remind yourself to take breaks and eat on time. Also, just because you don’t have any place to be, doesn’t mean you keep working through the night. Similar to setting a time to wake up, decide a time to finish work for the day. 

Talk to Your Family or Roommates

In an office setting, there’s an unsaid understanding of respecting each other’s personal space. But the same might be lost on someone you share a home with. You should talk to your family or roommates about this. For instance, if you have an important call, inform them in advance. Try to be patient and accommodating.

What are some tricks that help you stay focused? Let us know in the comments below!