Work from Home Productivity: How to Stay Focused and Get More Done?

It can be difficult for employees with remote work arrangements to remain productive while managing the responsibilities of their day job with family and home obligations.

Although working remotely has the benefit of avoiding distractions at the office, it's vital to recognize that the lack of a controlled setting can be a productivity barrier for certain people.

The following suggestions will help you restore your attention and cultivate the drive to perform excellently at work if you are having trouble staying focused when working from home.

10 pointers to help you stay organized while working from home:

Here are ten pointers to help you stay organized while working from home and fulfill deadlines!

1. Create a Family Schedule:

Parents may experience more difficulties balancing childcare duties and retaining productivity when school-aged children are at home during the workweek.

In such circumstances, it is essential to establish a straightforward routine for the entire family. Investigate scheduling alternatives to suit childcare requirements, such as having one spouse work in the morning and the other work later in the day.

Alternatively, consider waking up an hour earlier to use a quieter household for focused work, lightening your workload later.

Provide yourself with a purpose to start your day. Even though there may not be a need to hurriedly catch a train, dedicating yourself to a brief morning jog or engaging in a pilates session within the confines of your living room can effectively invigorate your circulation and signal to your brain that it is time to commence work.

2. Designate a Dedicated Workspace:

Although it may be alluring to work from the comfort of one's bed or sofa, it is best to set up a more professional office.

This can entail using a real desk or office space in the house, putting up a temporary workspace in the dining room, or both.

Ideally, the designated workspace should possess a door to minimize distractions and be equipped with essential supplies and equipment readily accessible, including a computer, printer, paper, headphones, and other necessary items.

Avoid the need to retrieve items, as this can frequently diminish productivity.

If you are accustomed to working in a bustling office environment, the sudden absence of noise and activity might strangely serve as a distraction.

Introducing low-volume background music or a softly played news broadcast can help alleviate the silence in your workspace and enable you to concentrate on your tasks.

However, it is advisable to avoid music genres or podcasts that have the potential to divert your attention further, such as upbeat pop music or personal favorite podcasts.

3. Rise Early and Engage Immediately:

Although the absence of the need to rush out the door to the office may tempt one to sleep in, adopting an early waking routine can enhance productivity.

Set the alarm for an hour before the rest of the family wakes up to give yourself plenty of time to have a cup of your favorite morning beverage and get started on emails or essential business projects.

You'll probably be pleasantly surprised by how much you can get done in the quiet of your own home.

Additionally, when one has few human contacts during the day, one wants to stay in cozy attire like pajamas or loungewear.

Making an effort to dress professionally, even if you choose smart casual wear, will considerably help you change your state of mind from leisure to productivity, successfully preparing you for the day's activities.

4. Incorporate Regular Breaks:

Sustained periods of work can only be maintained for a limited duration. To maximize productivity, consider incorporating regular breaks, allowing your mind and body to recharge.

Take a few minutes to stand, replenish your water supply, or engage with a pet every hour or so.

Additionally, allocate longer breaks throughout the day to interact with others. Spend approximately 20 minutes engaging in activities with your children, going out for a walk with your partner or pet, or engaging in conversation with your parents to check on their well-being.

These breaks will provide respite from work and contribute to reenergizing yourself.

5. Minimize Digital Distractions:

Social media use may be restricted at work, but it is frequently more available and alluring at home.

Unfortunately, it is easy to be sucked into it and lose an hour of productive time in the comments area of a single post.

Try to eliminate digital distractions to prevent them from interfering with your work. Log out of your accounts and remove social networking sites from your favorites.

While working, turn off alerts and notifications and keep your phone in a different room. Save your social media browsing for the evening, once the day's work is done.

6. Establish Scheduled Email Checks:

Unless your work necessitates constant email monitoring, designate specific times for checking your inbox.

Keeping your inbox constantly visible can distract you from your current tasks and lengthen their completion time. It may be more efficient to allocate dedicated periods for addressing emails.

7. Create a Daily To-Do List:

Maintain accountability by creating a daily to-do list. At the end of each workday, outline the tasks you need to accomplish the following day, specifying deadlines and including any scheduled meetings or calls.

The intention is to review this list promptly upon starting work the next morning, enabling a productive start to the day.

8. Capitalize on Multitasking Opportunities:

You will inevitably have other responsibilities during the day when working from home.

These might include chores like washing, cleaning, or caring for animals. To successfully handle these increased obligations, look for opportunities to multitask.

For instance, start the automated vacuum cleaner as you refill your coffee. Start a load of laundry while going to the kitchen before continuing your job. Take advantage of free periods to complete minor chores at once.

9. Consider Preparing Meals in Advance:

With the absence of nearby vending machines and the inability to quickly go out for a quick lunch with colleagues, mealtime responsibilities may rest on your shoulders when working from home, potentially extending to your family members.

Meal preparation may significantly lessen the load of ongoing cooking. Prepare many meals in larger quantities on Sundays, then portion them into food storage containers.

Through this approach, there is no longer a need to take breaks from work to prepare meals during the week. This strategy is especially helpful in homes with several residents since it gives people a variety of alternatives so they can eat whenever it's convenient for them.

10. Establish Dedicated Office Hours, When Feasible:

If permitted by your employer, establish specific hours during which you will be available for communication and work-related tasks via phone, email, or online platforms.

Simply living at home in comfort does not absolve you of the need to fulfill your commitments.

Colleagues must have a high degree of trust to work remotely without miscommunication, and showing respect for others' time is essential to gaining that confidence.

It's crucial to remember that your coworkers and clients have their own goals, and any delay in your email response time or assignment completion immediately impacts their capacity to do their jobs well.

While it's necessary to finish your professional tasks, it's just as important to set aside time for leisure, time with loved ones, and personal renewal. Setting realistic boundaries is crucial, both professionally and emotionally.

The Takeaway:

Working from home presents its fair share of challenges. However, you can mitigate the associated difficulties by creating a structured schedule, establishing clear expectations with family members, and minimizing distractions.

We’ve covered all the basics you need to remember when deciding to work from home. Most people's biggest pitfall is staying on top of their game while being alone.

Hopefully, you’re equipped with the knowledge to skyrocket your WFH productivity by now.