5 Tips for Efficiency When Working from Home

Working from home is great on so many levels. You can avoid the painful commute during rush hour, save time and money, and even work in your pajamas!

Whether you’re a freelancer or you’ve just opted for the work-from-home option at your workplace, working in the comfort zone of your home seems like the best thing ever. But how do you ensure maximum productivity? How do you keep off the procrastination wagon? How do you beat the urge to just log on to Netflix and chill? There are countless distractions around you.

Sometimes, losing the regular office environment may throw you off track. This can lead to a whole lot of issues with your employer, colleagues and clients. Being efficient while working from home isn’t impossible. You will be amazed at the amount of work you can get done in a day!

Let’s take a look at a few simple tips that will help you get the most out of your work hours at home.

  1. Set your working hours

If you don’t keep up a certain level of consistency, you’re going to slack.

  • Figure out your most productive hours and stick to it.
  • Plan out the next day’s workload in advance and work by it. This may also help you get ahead of schedule.
  • Make a daily checklist and stick to it. Nothing can beat the joy and achievement you feel when you tick things off.
  • Being extremely productive requires legit work ethics. Build it. Start small and build up. Don’t overestimate your productivity right at the start.

Whatever your working hours are, don’t veer away from achieving them.

  1. Have a dedicated workspace

It could be a certain nook in a room, a table and chair or the balcony. Either way, pick a space that’ll consistently be your workspace. It helps you get in the right frame of mind. Also, keep this space free of clutter.

  1. Check-in with your office

Have regular check-ins with people at work throughout the day. This means keeping them in the loop and vice versa. Your office must know that though you’re at home, you’re always available for communication.

  1. Avoid multitasking

Don’t try to cook and jab out letters on your laptop. Don’t deal with your kid’s tantrum and try to spew out designs at the same time. Don’t watch a movie and try to tally data sheets at the same. This is a big no. Steer clear of social media like it’s the plague. It’s good to have some music on the go though, to keep up your energy levels.

  1. Squeeze in short breaks

You can focus on a task for about 90-120 minutes. Take a time out. A 15-20 minute break is essential to recharge yourself. Have an hour set away for mealtimes. Get some fresh air, a quick walk, interact with another human, and you’ll be ready to deal with the next chunk of tasks.

If you can master these six tips, you’ll be a work-from-home wizard even before you know it! Use your flexible working pattern to your advantage and make yourself super productive for your own happiness and satisfaction.