The idea of working from home and being your own boss generally induces a lot of excitement and wonder about the new things you could accomplish. Working on your own time frees up space for you to attend to things that matter to you instead of things that matter to someone else.
That freedom is extremely desirable, and it does exist. The opportunity exists, at least, when you shift to working from home. At the same time, people often forget the amount of discipline it takes to get the same amount of work done from home as you would at the office.
We’re going to give you some tips for working remotely, hopefully offering some insight into how you can be as productive and happy as possible.
Let’s get started!
Tips for Working Remotely: What to Watch out for
The idea is to establish a clear work schedule that works for you, offers some flexibility, and doesn’t have you constantly side-eyeing the couch for a nap.
Unfortunately, that means that the couch is not your workspace. We hate to break it to you, and we know it sounds nice, but the couch is no place for a healthy career to flourish.
That said, take in the following 6 tips and see if they can offer you any ideas on improving your work-life balance while working from home.
1. Carve out Space for Yourself
First things first, you have to have a place that’s dedicated to your work. Part of the reason that offices are so effective is that we come to associate those spaces with productivity.
When you sit down to your desk, the thinking goes, your brain knows it’s time to get work done, and you’re less prone to losing focus or justifying doing something else. You need to hammer this point into yourself when you start working from home.
Your house is filled with numerous mental traps that would be otherwise healthy. Instead, these things are going to drive you in directions that have nothing to do with work. Pictures, sofas, devices, books, and pretty much anything else could set you off on a different path.
Make sure that you create a workspace that is clean, free of distractions, and fresh. In other words, carve out a new space and establish work as your sole purpose there.
2. Make Clear Goals
Have markers for yourself that indicate the fact that your work is done. If you’re freelancing, it can be easy to justify calling it in early or failing to complete a task on a particular day.
It’s crucial that you set goals so that you don’t lose motivation in that way. As you get into the rhythm of your workweek, you’ll grow accustomed to that pace and be much more productive than you would if you hadn’t set goals.
Your goals could also be distinct from your work. For example, get a vision board that has ideas for the things you’ll do when the money is made. That vacation, that new guitar, or that new laptop are all things that could motivate you to complete your day’s work.
3. Focus on Your Diet
The amount of mental energy you bring to your work will be impacted by the kind of food you eat. This goes for every profession, but you’re given the distinct opportunity to improve your diet because you live at home.
The typical workday is plagued by opportunities to stop and eat fast food or snack at strange hours. At home, you’ll be able to prepare extremely healthy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Regularity will be a huge advantage to your productivity and mental well-being.
4. Stay Active
Another essential piece is that you have some source of regular exercise. This is a general recommendation that could apply to all people of any profession, but working from home requires a distinct amount of discipline.
Each time you make the decision to work, you’ll be exerting a little bit of willpower, and that willpower will drain gradually as you work through the day. Little distractions build up into difficult afternoons, and you’ll need to be equipped with the energy to fight distractions and get work done.
Exercise has been shown to increase your energy in the short term and the long term, meaning that a regular routine can be expected to improve your output.
5. Switch It up Sometimes
One of the great benefits of working remotely is that you aren’t confined to your home office. You can pick up your laptop and start working anywhere you’d like to.
Explore different coffee shops, libraries, cafes, or any other location you feel would work. It’s important to break your routine up periodically so that you don’t feel stagnant.
Experiencing new places and things can make you feel happier, and that happiness can help you build resilience to adversity. So, as you’re sitting in your office dreading the idea of doing anything more for the day, consider stepping out and trying out a new, well-lit coffee shop.
6. Work With Other Remote Workers
This may sound a little strange, but sometimes you have to have a community of professionals around you to communicate with and bounce ideas off of.
Even if you’re a photographer and the other person is a marketing consultant, working together in the same space can keep you accountable to your process. You’ll have a reason to get started at a specific time, someone to suggest that you stay until your done, and some companionship along the way.
Send a message out on social media to see if anyone you know is a remote worker, too. Some communities also have spaces that encourage freelancers to come work together and office spaces for rent if you’re feeling like you want to have an established space away from home.
Need Some More Insight?
If you’re in need of some more tips for working remotely, we’re here to help out.
You can never get enough tips and tricks to optimize your process. Explore our site for more of the information you need to be as productive and happy as possible