A few weeks ago, you may have been excited by the prospect of working or studying from home and making your way through your to-do-list from the comfort of your sofa. But as the days go on, you might be finding it more and more difficult to keep on track. That’s why we wanted to share some of our top tips on staying productive and how to bring your A-game to your at-home office or workspace.
Find a dedicated workspace.
It might be tempting to work or study from your bed or sofa, but trust us, this isn’t going to help you stay productive – your bed is for sleeping and your office or classroom is for working, right? Same rules apply when working and studying from home. At work or at university, you might sit at the same desk or in the same classroom each day, and you will associate this environment with working, and you want to try and achieve this at home. So, when it comes to finding a dedicated workspace at home, try and make it somewhere that’s free from distractions and clutter. You might also want to choose somewhere with a door so that you can shut out any distractions (we know you’ll also have family members, housemates or your partner at home who might fancy a chat). Having that clear line between work and home will help you set boundaries for yourself and those around you, and will help you to differentiate between work and relaxation time.
Stick to a routine and try to manage your time.
Try and stick to your usual routine whilst working or studying from home. If you’re working for a company where you have set hours, try and keep to these. It might also help to create a to-do-list of everything you want to achieve during that working day. Doing this will also help you to manage your time. If you think you have all day to do something, you are more likely to take all day and be less productive during work hours. Same goes if you’re studying - try and keep to your university timetable, if you study for 12 hours a day, you may find yourself not enjoying your studies and being less productive. You may also want to try clocking in and out of your ‘lectures’ to help you distinguish between different classes. Although face-to-face teaching has been suspended, lecturers are building on lots of exciting online resources to help you continue with your studies!
Get dressed.
We’re not saying you have to get dressed up in a suit or pencil skirt to work at home, or sport the latest fashion craze to get on with your studies, but we’d recommend getting out of your pyjamas. Pyjamas are for sleeping, and although they may be comfortable, they won’t make you feel like you’re ready to take on a day at work and be productive! Plus, who wants to get caught wearing their pyjamas on a video call with their boss or tutor?
Exercise.
Exercise is especially important at the moment as it may be the only time you leave the house during the day. Whether it’s a walk or home workout in the garden or front room, make sure you try and incorporate some form of exercise into your day. Not only will it be a change of scenery, but it will also help to break up your day. When working from home, it’s easy to forget to move about which can make you feel lethargic. Getting in that daily exercise will not only help to give you a boost physically, it will also help to boost your productivity. Win-win!
Stay in touch.
It can be a quite a lonely time having to work or study alone, so make sure you’re staying in touch with your colleagues, tutors or classmates. Talking about any concerns and discussing your workload will help to eliminate any stress, and ultimately increase your productivity!
