After a couple of years of practice most of us are getting better at it, but there's no doubt that working from home can be challenging. And although many of us will be back in the office at least part time now, the blended model of working seems to be here to stay.
You may find it difficult to stay on task, complete your work, and feel productive whether you're home alone and the house is too quiet or you're home with the family and the kids are out of control. Fortunately, the tactics listed below might help you stay motivated when working from home.
1) Create a Dedicated Workspace
You probably discovered early on that working from bed or from the sofa is not conducive to a great days work, but have you created a specific work space where you can get peace and quite?
Working from the kitchen table is fine so long as there aren't lots of distractions, TV, kids running in and out, people cooking.....or the draw of the coffee machine within eyeshot. However if you have the space it is worth having a dedicated work station out of the way and set up with everything you need.
Make sure you have a proper office chair that supports your back and that your desk and monitor or laptop are the right height to work comfortably on without neck strain.
Natural light is also better for helping you stay alert and focused throughout the day, so a bright window nearby is ideal.
2) Make a Schedule
Time can run away from you if you don't have a scheduled workday. As you grab an extra cup of coffee, you might get distracted by the news or opening mail, shifting the start of your working day later and later. Your work hours are then extended into the evenings, meaning you to remain up later at night.
You might also discover that getting off course or side-tracked while working is easy for you. Projects that once took 20 minutes are now taking two hours.
That's why sticking to a timetable is crucial. Establish a start and stop time for your task. As much as possible, try to stick to it.
3) Keep Distractions and Interruptions to a Minimum
When you're interrupted, you could find it difficult to get back on track. Limiting your distractions and interruptions will help you stay motivated.
This could entail turning off your phone's notifications and checking your email only once every hour. Alternatively, set your phone to "Do Not Disturb" until you finish a certain job.
Keep your children active if you're working from home with them to limit the number of times they disturb you. Give them chores to complete and schedule a time to check in on them.
Set some ground rules for what constitutes a valid reason for them to interrupt you while you're working. Then, when they've done well on their own, you can reward them with a chance to do something extra exciting when you're finished working.
4) Work in Short Blocks of Time
Big jobs can feel more manageable if you set aside little chunks of time and plan what you'll do during that time.
You may find that telling yourself that you have just 30 minutes to complete one report is more motivating than telling yourself that you have 20 reports to complete by close of play.
You will also be more accountable if you schedule your time. When you just have 15 minutes to accomplish a task, you're less likely to get lost on social media. You'll be less prone to postpone if you set a strict deadline for yourself.
5) Set Yourself a Challenge
A little bit of a challenge can also help you stay motivated. For instance, you might set a goal of writing a certain number of words in 30 minutes. After you've seen how many words you can write in 30 minutes, try to beat it the next time you have 30 minutes.
You may also learn something new about yourself. Perhaps you can prefer to have meetings in the morning, or perhaps you concentrate better just after lunch. Knowing these facts about yourself could help you plan a successful day.
Being more conscious of your time allows you to make better use of it. And pushing yourself in some way may provide the extra motivation you require.
6) Practice the “10 Minute Rule”
It can be difficult to persuade yourself to begin working on a task you really don't enjoy. Whether you know it will be boring, frustrating, or extremely difficult, persuading yourself to begin is challenging.
The "10-minute rule" is one of the most effective techniques to get started on anything you don't want to do. Tell yourself that you only have 10 minutes to work on something. After that, if you like, you can take a 10-minute break.
You'll probably decide to keep going after the 10-minute mark. Getting started is usually the most difficult part. However, once you've done so, it's simple to maintain the momentum.
7) Take Care of Yourself
If you're exhausted and relying solely on caffeine and energy drinks, you'll never be at your best. To perform at your best, you'll need a balanced diet, plenty of rest, and appropriate self-care practises.
However, addressing your physical, social, and emotional requirements when you're outside a busy office environment can be difficult. Have breakfast, take a proper lunch break, and eat healthily, maybe go for a quick walk to clear your head.
So, every now and again, take a step back and ask yourself what else you can do to better care for yourself. As your stress level rises, your degree of self-care should rise as well.
8) Try Different Strategies
There are numerous online resources for working from home successfully. Everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for someone else.
So, it's important to try out various tactics to see what works best for you. Blended working is here to stay so finding the best way for you to work productively from home and stay motivated is something you really want to master.
Are you looking for a move into a role that improves your work life balance, or are you looking for new talent for your team? Get in touch for a chat about how we can help getus@jamesgrayengineering.com
