Self Improvement

5 Ways to Maximize Working From Home

posted on February 9, 2017 | by Chelsea Becker

5 Ways to Maximize Working From Home

I’ve personally always loved working from home. There’s flexibility, you can forgo makeup or uncomfortable clothes, and you’re not commuting or wasting time getting ready. The downsides, though, are that your bed is close, your DVR is even closer, and there’s not a lot of natural structure. Since I work from home every day, I’ve had to come up with ways to actually get work done. Here are 5 ways to maximize working from home:

Ignore chores

Throwing in a load of laundry or cleaning the bathroom “real quick” might be tempting, but chores are a distraction. Just because you’re home and these chores may seem simple, they’re essentially taking you away from work. Save chores until after you shut down for the day or weekends, like you would with an office job.

Schedule your day

Even though you’re not in an office with traditional structure, it’s still crucial to schedule your day. I personally use Google calendars and block out chunks for each task. I even schedule a morning routine and lunch break for myself. Knowing what your day looks like, what your most important tasks are —and when you’ll do them—helps productivity.

Create a morning routine

It’s really easy to wake up and jump on your computer first thing—especially because you don’t necessarily need to get ready first—but having a morning routine sets you up for a successful day. Wake up at a decent time, shower, grab coffee, eat breakfast, maybe read a little bit, and then get to work. Take advantage of the time you make up by not commuting and enjoy your morning.

Turn off

Just as easy as it is to start working the moment you wake up, working until 11 p.m. is similar. This leads to burnout, though, and working when you’re tired isn’t productive. Have a set time that you shut down each night—for me that’s 6 p.m.—and give your mind a break before work the next day.

Have a no TV policy

For years I thought I could WFH in front of the TV. And I can, but I get about half as much done vs. when I’m in my office. If there’s something I really can’t wait until 6 p.m. to watch, I catch a show on my lunch break—but never while working simultaneously.

What are your WFH tips?