Discover some key strategies for maintaining productivity while working from home, as Mutinta shares her personal experience and practical tips.
Everyone struggles to stay productive while working from home. We face challenges like distractions, balancing work and life, time management, and work stress. However, I benefited from flexibility, customized workspace, saved transportation costs, and got more motivation to do my work.
I chose this topic because as an Our Moon student, I often struggle to be productive while shifting between working from home and on-site. Therefore, I will share practical tips to help you stay productive and motivated while working from home.
Choose a workspace
Choose which part of your home you are going to be working from. It can be tempting to work on your bed or couch, so try setting up something more professional like a desk or table where you can sit up straight.
When working from home, I choose to work in my bedroom where I can avoid disturbances by locking the door. I use pieces of furniture that are not too comfortable, and for motivation, I dress up formally to avoid the familiar comfort of my pajamas. These activities help me and I believe they can help you to choose an environment that will be comfortable for you and motivate you to concentrate on your work.
Make a routine
Make a clear timetable including what time you will be working and what time you will be doing your house chores. Remember that you need to fulfill your duties at home and it is important to include it in your timetable. I usually tell all my family members my schedule before I begin working on my tasks. This helps me concentrate better because they will know when to involve me and when not to.
You can try informing everyone around you about your routine so that they know when you are going to help out to avoid inconveniencing your schedule.
Set specific goals
Set daily and weekly goals to stay motivated and prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance to keep you on track. For example, as part of Our Moon’s provision, I fill in the day starter form to help me set daily goals and the day finisher form to reflect on my accomplishments. Make sure you are accountable to reach your daily goals and at the end of the day review your goals and summarise them to help you know where to start from the next day.
Stay connected with your team
Make time for checking your emails, messages, and colleagues. My colleagues and I are connected via Viva Engage and a WhatsApp group which helps me find out if there has been any change in my assignments or if there is any recent announcement in my organization. Such communication platforms help you keep up to date with the latest information and allow you to ask questions where you have struggles.
Maintain a healthy work-life balance
Set boundaries between work and personal life by making specific times to check on family, friends, and social media. I found it helpful to disable alerts and notifications and put my phone in a separate room when working. If you are using your phone to work, log out of all your social media accounts and put your phone on focus mode. I use social media later in the day when I am done with all my work. You can do that by disciplining yourself to use time wisely and prioritize what matters most.
Check your progress
Make sure to review and adjust your work-from-home experience to find out what works best for you. I regularly write self-reflections and seek feedback from my colleagues and family members to assess my experience. To help you make the necessary adjustments, take note of your experiences from home and compare them with your experience at work.
Conclusion.
I hope to motivate you through my experience and these tips to help you find your path to productivity when you are working from home. Working from home is not a limitation, but an opportunity to create a workspace that suits your needs. Take control of your productivity today and achieve success in your work and personal life.
References
https://www.travelers.com/resources/home/working-remotely/10-tips-for
-staying-productive-when-working-from-home
https://www.upwork.com/resources/productivity-tips-working-from-ho me