Dear Freedom Achiever,
There was a time when the idea of working from home was considered the ultimate version of freedom. The thought of being able to set your own hours, choose where you want to work from, and how your workday looks and feels was idyllic. However, the past year and a half have shown us in the most unexpected of ways that our work from home dream can be an unproductive uphill climb more days than not.
Although the circumstances have been quite different from what we could have ever imagined, there are ways to tackle these productivity and efficiency challenges that have arisen while working from home. Find below 4 techniques you can incorporate into your work day to help overcome your work from home challenges.
Decide on the hours you plan to work for the day and then break your day into time blocks. . Time blocking is a technique that can assist in keeping you stay focused on particular tasks for a set period of time and can also help to keep your productivity levels high.
Tip: Remember, if you can set your own hours you can organise your day around your lifestyle and habits. When are you usually working at your best? Are you an early riser or do you have more energy later in the day?
If the first thing you ask yourself when you start your day is “Ok, what am I going to do today?”, then you are setting yourself up for an unproductive day. One of the secrets to boosting your work from home productivity lies in more than just establishing a routine. You need to have a plan.
Wasting time working on things that do not require your immediate attention while more important tasks are left to the last minute is one of the many ways you can experience burn out when working from home. The best way to avoid this in the long run is to make a list of your daily tasks and follow through.
Tip: Remember to prioritise your tasks according to importance so you can get your biggest projects done first. Make it a habit to keep track of your progress and make notes at the end of your day so you know what is incomplete and needs your attention first thing the next day.
One of the most common problems we hear from our clients while currently working from home is keeping business out of your everyday life. What do I mean by that?
When working from home, the lines between your personal and professional life can easily become blurred because the home and office are one. How many times have you found yourself answering emails late into the night or answering your WhatsApp when a coworker sends a late-night request?
Setting boundaries allows you to separate work and home and honour rest, which gives you an opportunity to disconnect and recharge. For example, limiting work-related activities to a designated space in the house.
Tip: Boundaries don’t only apply to the physical space you are in. Everyone you need to interact with – family members, clients, coworkers, manager, employees, etc. should all know when is the best possible time for them to get you so you can be fully engaged with them when they need you.
“Taking a break can lead to breakthroughs.” ― Russell Eric Dobda
If you find yourself working for hours on end without getting up to stretch your legs, or even take a fifteen minute ‘do nothing’ break, you may be contributing to your own challenges with efficiency and productivity while working at home. Take establishing boundaries a step further by scheduling time to rest throughout your work day at home and sticking to it.
Including restful pauses throughout your work day while at home is a great way to help your mind and body disconnect so you come back to your tasks energised and with a fresh perspective. The Pomodoro technique is a popular method of taking scheduled breaks where you work for 25 minutes, followed by a five minute break.
Tip: Resting does not only mean taking a nap. Your restful pauses while working from home can include mindfulness practices, eating a meal, listening to music, reading a book, or even checking in with family and friends.
These four techniques for successfully boosting your productivity while working from home are not finite. However, starting with these four areas can give you a sense of control and bring back a helpful structure to your day to keep you on task without feeling overwhelmed. Which of these four strategies would your work from home routine benefit most from?
Live YOUR Passion!
As an entrepreneur, when you create S.M.A.R.T business goals you have a much clearer picture of what you want to achieve and by when.
Once your goals have been defined, you need to track your progress against them. You need data, so you know if what you are doing is working and if you are on track.
If you’re feeling like time is slipping away and that you are not getting all the things you want done, it’s time to take a step back and reassess what’s not working. With all of the advice and books out there on how to get more done in less time it can be difficult to find the right tips and tricks that work for you without first evaluating how your current way of doing things, is affecting your ability to work efficiently. These seven simple strategies can help you navigate your day so you can feel more accomplished at the end of your day.
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