Boosting Productivity When Working From Home

Boosting Productivity: A Guide for Working at Home

 Millions of people across the globe have swapped offices and for kitchen tables and spare bedrooms. Working from home has become the norm for many, but it isn’t always easy. If you find yourself struggling to concentrate, or you’re experiencing difficulties managing your time, this guide is packed with useful tips. Here are some steps you can take today to boost productivity and wellbeing.  

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Establish a Routine

Many employees are used to a daily routine, which involves getting up at the same time each morning, commuting and signing in. The working day follows a similar pattern each day, ending in a journey home and preparing for the next day. Working from home is often less structured and some people miss their old routine. If you tend to work better when you have a more rigid plan, establish a new regime at home. Set your alarm for the same time each morning and either start work early or make time for a walk or a meditation or exercise session. Stick to core hours in line with instructions or guidance from your employer and break up the day with frequent breaks to get fresh air, rest your eyes and stretch your legs. After work, get into the habit of doing activities that help you switch into relaxation mode and resist the temptation to check emails late at night. It’s important to separate your work and home lives, especially when you’re staring at the same four walls all day long, every day.

 When you’re designing your routine, play to your strengths. Some people wake up early ready and raring to go. Others take a while to warm up and they perform better later in the day. If you have core hours, for example, 10 am until 3 pm, you can decide when to start and finish your day. You might find that you want to get started at 7 am and work through until 3 pm, or you may want to enjoy a lie-in and finish at 6 pm. Figure out what works for you, but use your routine to ensure that you have sufficient time to work, rest and enjoy hobbies and active pursuits.

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Identify Clear Objectives

When you work from home, it can be more difficult to gain clarity when it comes to tackling work-related tasks. You can’t just pop into your boss’ office and ask a question or organize a quick team meeting at short notice. With this in mind, it’s incredibly useful to outline clear objectives at the beginning of each week. Write a list of the jobs you want to complete, gather information from colleagues in advance and schedule virtual catch-ups. Aim to ensure you have everything you need to start each job before you begin and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help or advice if you’re unclear about a specific element of a project or you’re missing key data.

 Get Enough Sleep

Many of us find it challenging to switch off and relax when we go to work normally, let alone when we’re working and trying to unwind in the same space. Ensure that you get enough sleep. There’s an assumption that working from home is easy and that people spend hours every day in their pajamas tapping away at laptops balanced on knees in front of the TV. In reality, it can be more difficult to work from home, and many people find that they actually work longer hours. Give yourself enough time to decompress, to close down all those mental windows and tabs and embrace the opportunity to chill out. Use your evenings to go for a stroll or a bike ride, to meditate, to catch up with friends or watch TV before enjoying a hot bubble bath. Sleep is vital for optimal mental and physical wellbeing and it will help to ensure you are as productive as possible when you get up in the morning.

Beware, however, of using sleeping medications. Overuse and abuse of sleeping medications can lead to physical dependence, with the individual unable to fall asleep without them. Tolerance means that the user must increase the dose over time to maintain the same initial effects. Sleeping medications are very addictive; treatment is available and should be sought as soon as possible.

 Eat Well

We often associate eating well with a healthy body, but a healthy, balanced diet is also essential for psychological wellbeing. A nutritious diet can improve mental clarity, lift your mood and help you maintain high energy levels, even in the middle of the afternoon when it can be tough to stay engaged. Always make sure your body has sufficient fuel to get through the working day and nourish it with healthy, delicious meals. Avoid the temptation to graze on snacks all day at your desk. If you make an effort, you can start looking forward to mealtimes and enjoy the break. It only takes a few minutes to rustle up a healthy, tasty bowl of soup or a wrap, salad, fresh pasta dish or sandwich. Aim to increase your intake of fruit and vegetables, add herbs and swap white bread, rice and pasta for whole grains. Limit your intake of sugar. If you indulge in candy and chocolate bars, you’ll experience peaks and troughs in terms of your energy levels, which will make it difficult to concentrate for prolonged periods. You’ll also find that you get hungry soon after eating. Opt for foods that release energy slowly. Good examples include oatmeal for breakfast, poached eggs and avocado on whole wheat toast for lunch and brown rice with vegetables, lean meat or fish for dinner.

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Go Outdoors

One of the biggest changes we are currently adapting to as home workers is staying in the same place all day long. Being at home can be monotonous, but it doesn’t have to be. Try to make sure you get outside every day. Even if you’ve got a busy day packed with meetings, spending 10 minutes in the fresh air will make you feel more alert and energetic. Make time to get out and about, go walking or hiking, take your bike out or go for a run. Being outside is proven to boost energy levels, enhance mental health and reduce stress.

 Exercise

Exercise is associated with building fitness, strength and stamina, but it can also have a major bearing on mental health, motivation and productivity. Being active makes you feel good. It prevents stress and can also aid concentration. Experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week for adults. This can include everything from taking your dog for a walk, Pilates, jogging and virtual personal training sessions to cycling, swimming, playing tennis and doing dance lessons. It’s an excellent idea to get into the habit of exercising daily and to incorporate sessions into your routine. Exercise breaks up the day and it triggers the release of endorphins, as well as boosting levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. You can work out at home by using home gym equipment or following online training sessions. You can go for a walk, a bike ride or a run, or you can try activities such as spinning, yoga or trampolining. As long as your body is moving and your heart is pumping, you should start to notice the benefits of a more active lifestyle. As well as helping you increase strength and endurance, exercise also improves sleep quality, can help you maintain a healthy and stable body weight and can also make you feel more confident.

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 Are you struggling to stay focused when working from home, or are you finding it tough to balance home and work life? Working from home can be challenging, but there are ways to boost productivity and look after your mental and physical health. Take these tips, and more here, on board today and you should notice a positive change in no time.

Maria Olsen