Do you find yourself currently in a rut working from home? However, you’re feeling super grateful that you get to work from home.
You’re just finding it difficult to stay focused, let alone productive? This blog post is for you! Below, I share my top 10 work from home productivity tips. Keep reading!
This blog post is all about the top 10 work from home productivity tips.
Designate a Work Space
When I started working from home, I used to use a part of my kitchen as my home office. Eventually, when the shelter-in-place order happened, my daughter also had to work from home.
She used the kitchen a lot (rightfully so, as this was her space too). This meant that the kitchen would get a lot of foot traffic and get noisy. I soon had to move my “home office” to my bedroom.
If possible, I would highly recommend using a different area other than your bedroom for a home office, but if push comes to shove, you can make it happen. Just whatever you do, DO NOT, and I repeat, do not work in your bed. The same goes for your couch. Working there will kill your productivity alone, to say the least.
Instead, I improvised. I already had two small cushioned chairs at the end of my bed. Instead of purchasing a whole new office setup, I decided to use what I already had (the chairs) and purchased a small C-style acrylic end table that fit in the middle of both chairs when I wasn’t using it.
I like that it’s also a C-style end table because I’m able to slide it further under the cushioned chair to save on space. Although it’s an end table, it’s still large enough to hold my 16″ laptop.
Designating specific areas or furniture for working really helps with productivity. I have now graduated to the sunroom, where I have a full-size desk, a large monitor, and a sideboard (for my office supplies).
Even if you don’t want to purchase anything at all, you can use a space in the kitchen counter as your home office. My daughter did that.
Whatever you do, please do not use your bed or couch (unless this is absolutely the only option). My co-workers will also designate a portion of their backyard as their office space.
I’ve even seen my neighbor use his garage as a home office. The purpose of designating a home office space is to get your mind prepared for productivity.
Get a Desk
Now, this is the second tip of my top 10 work from home productivity tips. Not only do you need to designate a home office area, but you also need to get a desk or have something similar to a desk to work on.
Especially if your goal is to stay productive. It’s harder to stay productive when you’re balancing your laptop on your lap.
As I mentioned above, I purchased an end table and made that into a makeshift desk. The beautiful thing about that is that when I’m not using it, it’s another functional piece of furniture that fits perfectly in my bedroom.
They also have these really cool portable desks I was thinking of investing in. I like these desks because they’re mobile. I can move them from room to room and adjust the height from sit to stand.
Still not sure if I want to pay over $100 for one when I already have a desk and a couple of makeshift ones. However, these types of desks may be a great option for you because they’re smaller and portable. Be sure to check out some of my favorite picks at the bottom of this blog post.
Upgrade Your Home Office Equipment
Third on the list of top 10 work from home productivity tips is creating your home office with work from home accessories.
Now, again, if you don’t want to buy anything, I totally get it, and that’s fine. However, if you want to stay productive, you will need to think about efficiency and ergonomics.
One of the accessories I find super valuable is a good pair of headphones. I’ve gone back and forth between cordless and wired. Currently, I’m using wired headphones again.
Initially, I was using my cordless bone conducting headphones by Shokz (specifically made for running). They worked super well, but I started getting weirded out by wireless Bluetooth and went back to wired.
I say headphones are important because they really help with communicating in meetings and on the phone. They have headphones that provide noise canceling, which quiets all the background noise that may be happening in your background. You may also want to think about a headset with a mic if you speak a lot.
You should check to see if your company can either provide you with some or reimburse you. But having a good pair of headphones will provide ease in communication that will help you feel more productive.
My company provided me with a large screen that now sits on my desk. However, if you don’t have space on a desk, there are screen extenders you can attach to your laptop.
Recently, I gifted myself with an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. I was using the ones given to me by my company. But since I use both most often, I wanted to make comfort a priority for me and avoid any form of carpal tunnel.
Ever since I switched out my keyboard and mouse, I’ve found myself to be way more productive. Just because typing and clicking are a lot more comfortable. For my mouse, I do wish I had splurged a little more and purchased one with a rotating ball.
Cozy Up Your Work Space
Nothing’s worse than having to work in a cold space, figuratively and literally speaking. In the winter, I have my heater set up to turn on at a specific time in the mornings. The same goes for the summer with the air conditioner.
Another thing I like to do is light candles first thing in the morning. This creates such a calm morning for me. Not only does it feel cozy, but visually, it also inspires me to be more productive. I honestly can’t explain why, but it’s things like that that we need to find for ourselves that will inspire productivity.
I also have a lot of plants in my home office, which help with the cozy feel as well. And when I need a break from my desk, they give me a reason to get up and water them.
Figure out what cozy looks and feels like for you. Remember, you want to inspire coziness to get you in a productive state of mind, not where it’s so cozy you want to go back to sleep. Don’t forget to check some of my favorite picks below.
Play Calm Music
I suggest playing calm music. My go-to is usually jazz. It’s hard for me to concentrate or stay productive when there are lyrics. But hey, if that works for you, great!
I usually like something mellow because it helps me stay in a productive state. When I listen to something that’s too upbeat or overwhelming, it can get distracting.
You can find a lot of workday productive playlists on Spotify or YouTube. I like YouTube because you can also have a visual background of a coffee shop displayed on your TV or laptop, adding to the cozy vibes.
Your Morning Routine Starts At Night
Now, I know some of you may not want to hear this, but your morning routine really does start at night. You do need a good amount of sleep to have a productive day.
If you have challenges with sleep, be sure to check out my blog post, 9 Tips To Fall Asleep Easier, by clicking here.
Not only do you need good sleep, but you will also feel more productive if you wake up to a clean house. Your house doesn’t need to be spotless, but it’s helpful if your house is picked up the night before.
One of the key areas in my house I like to keep clean to help feel more productive in the mornings is my sink. If it’s not clean in the ams, it will be one of the first things I will tackle in the mornings.
If you want to have a productive morning, again, it really starts at night. Here, I’ve linked my blog post on a nighttime routine checklist to get you started.
Create A Solid Morning Routine
One of the things that used to help me get up in the morning was looking forward to my cup of coffee. To make my mornings easier, I set up my coffee machine to start brewing before my alarm goes off. This way, I can wake up to the smell of coffee and get my day started.
If coffee isn’t your thing, figure out your drink of choice. Whatever your drink is, make making your drink a ritual to start your day. I know some people who slowly make their coffee. They savor that moment of quiet in the morning to prepare for a day full of productive projects and tasks.
Another thing I suggest you incorporate in your morning routine is making your bed if you haven’t already. I started making my bed every morning about six years ago. Yes, I know, I’m a late starter to some. But hey, better late than never.
I swear on the days I don’t make my bed, my productivity levels drop by 30-40%. It’s something psychological for me. And according to this blog post by Sarah Vanbuskirk at VeryWellMind, there are a lot of mental health benefits to making your bed. Check out her post here.
I also suggest you wake up at least 30 minutes before your clock-in time. An hour or more would be ideal.
Try 30 minutes first if you’re the type to wake up 5 minutes before you need to start working. Having that extra 30 minutes before starting your work is a nice thing to do for yourself. You’ll feel more relaxed enough to start your day on a productive note.
I’ve done that before, waking up 5 minutes before I needed to start. It just threw my day off. Even though I didn’t need to go to the office, getting ready still felt rushed. I got ready later in the day, but didn’t want to take too long just in case I missed a call or a message.
Last, as mentioned above, get ready for your day. I like waking up as if I’m going into the office. There are days when I don’t leave home, but I still get ready by putting on a little makeup (at the very least SPF) and an outfit. This action of getting ready helps transition my mind from home to work.
I’ve also realized that although I like to feel comfortable, I noticed that when I wear sweats or lounge clothes, like athleisure, I am not as productive as if I were wearing an outfit that inspires confidence.
Yes, comfort is on my mind, but now I try to find outfits that help me look put together. And you won’t catch me working in pajamas. That alone will stunt my creativity, and I need all my creativity to stay as productive as possible.
Need a morning skin care routine? I got you. Click here to read about it. It’s one of my most popular blog posts.
Which Works Best For You: Incremental Work or Time Blocking?
For me, incremental work works best. I didn’t even know there was a name for it until I started writing this blog post. Apparently, according to AI, incremental work and time blocking are two different types of work styles.
Incremental work is an approach that’s more flexible and adaptive. Whereas time blocking is a more rigid and structured approach to time management. Choose which method works best for you.
I realized that for me, I’m most productive when I choose incremental work. It’s easier for me to break down a project into smaller, more manageable time frames than to block out my calendar for large amounts of time. I personally need small wins.
What incremental work looks like for me is writing a list of all the things I need to get done for work. I prioritize time-sensitive things first. If I have a large project that needs to get done, I will figure out how I can break it down into smaller tasks.
I will then work on that one task for however long it will take me. This can range from up to an hour or two.
Once I have completed that task, I will then take a break for about 10 to 15 minutes or however much time I find appropriate for that moment. Then I’ll start working on the next task.
There are days when I can only work on small tasks for an hour at a time and save my larger tasks for when I have the whole day to break them up.
To me, incremental work differs from time blocking because I do not schedule time blocks on my calendar specifically for that day. Instead, I see how my day is feeling and choose projects or tasks I feel will help me feel more productive once completed, keeping in mind deadlines.
Unlike time blocking, you schedule your to-dos. For example, you would designate in your calendar 9-10 am for only emails, 10-11 am for only calls, etc. It’s more organized and structured for sure. But for my personality, it doesn’t work. The key is figuring out what works for you.
I like to do small bursts of productivity. So if my day is full of meetings, I’ll find a quick to-do I can complete in between meetings, like writing an email or making a follow-up call.
Once I’m finished, I’ll allow myself a little break, whether that’s checking my phone or taking a walk. I like to organize my tasks based on how the day is going.
However, this is not to say that I never use time-blocking. I will use time-blocking when I’m “heads down” on a project. This is just not my preferred way to stay productive. So remember, find what works for you and tailor it in a way to keep you productive.
Write Down Your To-Dos
I purchased a planner where I write down all of my to-dos. I need to write them down. It’s a way to help me feel more productive. When I’ve completed a to-do on my list, instead of crossing it out, I like to highlight it with a pretty colored highlighter. It’s fun and an incentive for me to complete it, as trivial as it may sound.
It’s visually appealing for me to see that I completed something and marked it off with a pretty color. If you’re a visual person, too, figure out little ways to mark off the completion of your project or task.
These small incentives will continue to create more productivity in us. I encourage writing down your to-dos because the act of writing them is a slower process than typing them. The act of writing it will cause your brain to receive it better than if you were just to type it, in my opinion.
I have some favorite pens I like to write with as well. Each time I write in my planner, I take it as an opportunity to perfect my handwriting, too.
Go For Walks
You may be wondering how going for walks will keep you productive since it keeps you away from your desk. Well, walking is not only physically healthy but it’s also mentally healthy. It’s not healthy to sit at your desk all day without breaks, even when you’re at home.
I started calling my coworker on Teams so we could walk together. I like to walk around my neighborhood, whereas my coworker likes her walking pad. Sometimes we talk about work during our walks, and other times, we just like to catch up on our lives.
I can say this much: whenever I get back from my walk and back to my desk, I feel so much more inspired, which triggers productivity. Give it a shot and take a walk. See how much more productive you feel when you get a little active.
Plus, walking is so beneficial. My doctor even recommended that I walk more instead of running. I consulted with her about weight loss, and at the time, I was running three times a week, about 11 miles on average.
She said walking would help me lose weight faster than running. When I asked why, she said that when you run, your body needs extra calories and you’ll end up eating more.
I don’t walk 10,000 steps anymore like I used to, but I still call my coworker up to make sure we catch up and do our regular walks when time permits. And, yes, I’ll even walk without her if necessary.
I also like to track my steps with my watch. It helps keep me motivated and accountable because it’ll let me know how many steps I did in a day. It’s actually pretty unfortunate when I noticed I got less than 3000 steps in a day, which can easily happen if you’re not mindful of it and work from home.
Here’s Your To-Do List Of Top 10 Work From Home Productivity Tips!
- Designate a Work Space
- Get A Desk
- Upgrade Home Office Equipment
- Cozy Up Your Space
- Play Calm Music
- Your Morning Routine Starts At Night
- Create A Solid Morning Routine
- Incremental Work vs Time Blocking
- Write Down Your To-Dos
- Go For Walks
What I’ve gathered is that to stay productive or create a space for more productivity, not only do you need to create ease, comfort, and organization, but you also need to be creative.
Use your imagination and think outside the box about what may benefit your productivity. Remember to have fun with it! Having fun also inspires productivity because you’ll be more invested in what you’re doing.
Sometimes, when I’m working from home, I will pretend that I own my own business and that I work for myself. When in reality, the work I’m doing is for someone else.
Either way, they both take discipline, consistency, and productivity. All the skills we need to thrive professionally.
Also, if working from home still doesn’t work for you after implementing these top 10 work from home productivity tips, go to the library. I find that when I go to the library versus a coffee shop, I am way more productive.
The cool thing about the library is that it’s free. They also have rooms you can work in if you need some privacy. I take a lot of my calls in those rooms.
I prefer working at the library because I have to be quiet. This means I can’t carelessly doom scroll or chit-chat with whoever is next to me.
However, at the coffee shop, I get so distracted by people watching or listening to other people’s conversations. But if that works for you, by all means, do what works for you.
If you have any tips or tricks on work from home productivity, please share. I would love to hear some of your top tips. Be sure to check out some of my favorite picks below. As always, thanks for reading!
Love, Sutivi.
