With many people having to make the transition to working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be difficult for those not used to working remotely to maintain the same levels of productivity and motivation during the workday.
While everyone’s working style and preferences are different, here are a few tips and tricks that can help make managing your time and staying motivated easier during this transition.
Lists, lists, lists!
Many office workers use lists to help them plan out their day and set priorities. The same should go for people working from home. Working out of your home can present its own set of unique distractions that might make you lose focus and allow both work and personal tasks to fall through the cracks. Set weekly and daily lists for all of the tasks you’d like to accomplish, and revisit those lists whenever you find yourself unmotivated or distracted by something at work or home.
Have a dedicated space
Setting up a dedicated workspace in your home is very important to cutting out distractions and keeping yourself focused at work. You don’t need a dedicated room or home office – a corner with a clean and organized workspace works just as well. You’re really just looking for a place to “go to work” while at your home. This trick also sets a mental and physical distinction between work and home that many remote workers find helpful.
Have “on” and “off” hours
Many people new to working from home can have trouble separating their work and personal lives. It’s important to distinguish between “work” hours and “home” hours. Be sure to avoid household distractions as much as possible while during work hours, and avoid work tasks during your designated “home” hours. This will help to ensure that you maintain balance in your work and personal life, while also keeping you focused and motivated on the tasks at hand.