Working from home has become more normalised than ever in today’s world, and a vast number of businesses now offer flexible working hours. This means people no longer have to commute into the office every day of the week, helping them save time and increasing their work life balance. The only issue is that many people struggle to stay focused and fully productive while working at home compared to working in the office.
(Photo by Jason Strull on Unsplash)
The truth is that while working from home has its undeniable perks, business owners and managers expect their teams to be as productive as possible. It can be difficult to remain focused when there are so many distractions and no one looking over your shoulder. Thankfully, there are ways you can easily boost your productivity so you get the same results even when out of the office.
Blocking Websites
While the internet is an excellent tool for work, offering unlimited knowledge and resources at our fingertips, it can also be extremely distracting. If you’re working from home, you likely won’t have filters that block the kind of websites that are unproductive. Whether its online games, social media platforms or any other type of activity that distracts you, all you have to do is block the site.
You can learn how to block websites on Mac Chrome incredibly easily. It’s not a complicated process, and can be done in just a few minutes. All you have to do is download a tool like Focus and add the sites you want to block. You can choose to block them permanently, or set up schedules so you can still enjoy your favourite distractions once the work day is over.
Create a Dedicated Space for Your Work
Rather than working all over your house, it’s a good idea to have a dedicated area that you just use for work. This will keep everything all in one place. Not only that, but it will also be easier for you to create a haven where you won’t be disturbed. Make sure you have all you need, including a sturdy desk at the right height and an ergonomic chair.
Being comfortable is a very important aspect of being productive. The best offices are always kitted out in furniture that puts the comfort of the employee as a top priority. You should do the same for your workspace, ensuring that you’re always comfortable even when working for long hours.
Setting a Clear Schedule
When you’re working from home, it’s very easy to allow other things to take over your normal work day. You might get sucked into spending more time with friends or family and while this can be beneficial, it shouldn’t get in the way of your work. It’s important to have a clear schedule where you complete your work and nothing else.
Set a time and make sure that during that time, you’re fully focused on work. Make sure you have proper boundaries in place with your friends and family so they know not to disturb you during that time. Even if you’re not in the office, that shouldn’t mean you’re available for everything and anything that’s expected of you.
Fit Exercise into Your Day
When we work from home, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of getting up, sitting at a desk and working until the end of the day. While not having a commute means more time saved, it’s important to capitalise on that extra time. Make sure you’re getting enough exercise, getting up from your desk to stretch and move about regularly.
Being sedentary for too long increases the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease, and just a few minutes of exercise per day can reduce that significantly. Set some time aside each day to go for a walk, hit the gym or enjoy a run outside in nature.
