Working from home is becoming an increasingly popular way of doing business. I spend half of my time working from home and the other half working as a Pharmacist in my pharmacy. And I have struggled at various times to keep productive when working from home.
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If you can get productive, working from home will give you a better quality of life and the flexibility of choosing the time and place you work from.
Like myself, many people struggle with getting more done in the allotted time. This gets even trickier if you are your own boss and you have to set your own pace. So whether you are a small business owner, a working mom or a freelancer, it is important that you are productive and on target since your income is related to your productivity.
I would rather work from home than have to commute to work. Just think of it, no struggle with other cars on the road, no expensive public transport fares and no drenching with rain as you wait at the bus-stop.
However, there are certain habits that you will need to develop to get more done in less time as you work from home.
5 Simple habits that help you get more done and meet your deadlines.
1. Have strict deadlines
It doesn’t matter if it is a small task, get into the habit of using a timer or setting a finish date for your work. We all like to work against the clock so set a tight deadline and then put in the effort to beat it. You can make this into a game. The deadline will keep you focused and help you avoid distractions.
In addition to the deadline, creating a simple check list of work to be done with the time allocated for each task is also useful.
2. Have fixed working hours.
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you have no working hours. In the early days, I would work anytime I feel like and I wouldn’t work when I didn’t feel like it. This is a recipe for disaster. Your health, your relationships and your productivity will suffer.
To be productive from home, you need to create and stick to the working hours that suit you. Experiment. If you are not a morning person, don’t feel guilty about spending the whole day in bed or playing your favorite game because you have the whole night to be productive. If 9am to 5pm doesn’t work for you, try 9pm to 5am. Your goal is to stay on track with your projects, get more done and have fun in the process.
3. Have a dedicated work space.
A dedicated work area away from distractions such as the television, the couch or the bed is a must. When you have a specific place to work in, your mind will associate it with business and getting things done.
A dedicated workplace will help you focus. It has been observed that most people don’t get as much done when working from the bed, which entices you to sleep or take a nap. Having a desk and chair will go along way to making you more productive. The further away from the bedroom or kitchen your workspace is, the more work you will get done.
4. Have control over your online activity
The first thing to switch off or restrict access to is your email application. You can take it offline. You can also block distracting websites through the use of programs such as Cold Turkey. This software will prevent you from lingering at social media and You Tube channels.
You can also turn your WiFi off completely and concentrate on getting productive work done. Learn more about how to increase productivity by reducing distractions.
5. Have control over your time
Use your time wisely. Prioritize your working day. Make sure that you perform all money making tasks when you are most productive. Things such as responding to emails and spending time on social media can wait until later.
For example, if you are a morning person, use the mornings to work on projects to complete them on time and then you can communicate with your clients later in the day.
So what changes do you have to make to be get more done from your home office. How about implementing one of the five tips mentioned above and see the impact it will make on your productivity. There is plenty of technology out there to help you manage your time, remain productive and achieve your goals.
Which of the five things listed above will you be working towards a habit of?