Over the past couple of years, there have been a number of key changes in the way that we work. One of the most evident has been the fact that working from home has been more common, which has taken some time getting used to for millions around the world.
However, working from home does have many advantages, including having the opportunity to have greater freedom on working hours and ensuring that you don’t need to spend time out of your day traveling. Still, many have struggled with productivity when working from home.
If you are working from home, you probably love it at first. It is great to have a quiet place where you can get work done and avoid being disturbed by others. But if you are not careful, working from home can become a nightmare.
It’s not uncommon for people to feel a little less productive at home. But the good news is that productivity doesn’t have to suffer at home. If you want to keep yourself from losing hours of time to those tasks and keep your productivity high while working from home, then you’re going to need to stay on top of these three things.
Below, you can find some tips to help efficiency when working from home.
Take Breaks
One of the main issues that people have had working from home is not taking breaks. Stopping work for a period of time is proven to improve productivity, as it helps refocus your mind when you get back to work. Taking breaks can mean a number of things, whether that be going on a short walk, heading for a coffee with a friend, or just having lunch.
As well as breaks, many have found that their productivity has improved from a change of scenery on occasions. Working from cafes has proven very popular over the past couple of years, and Welovebrum.co.uk has identified some of the best spots in Birmingham to work for an afternoon.
Establish A Schedule
When you go from working in an office to working from home, one of the biggest challenges that many face was establishing a new schedule. Getting into a new routine is easily one of the biggest challenges that many faces, as you will need to determine when you get up, and what time you start. Establishing a new schedule can be daunting at first, especially if you have other responsibilities that you need to take into account, such as taking the kids to school.
This schedule is often different depending on the person. If you’re younger and have less responsibilities, then you can wake up later and just set up your home office in minutes. However, if you have others to look after before starting work, then you will need to wake up earlier to ensure that you can start work on time. Establishing hours that you will be working is also crucial to consider.
Set Up A Work Station
One of the biggest challenges when working from home is setting up boundaries. That means setting up a station where you will be working away from distractions. It’s also important to put a work station away from places where you would typically spend your downtime, that way there is a clear difference when you’re working compared to when your day is finished.
Work stations should also be set up in areas where there is generally less sound so you can focus on your work. That could mean finding a room in the house away from busy roads and where there is less background noise if you live in a more crowded house.
