How To Stay Motivated While Working From Home
As we are all cooped up at home for the time being, many of us are telecommuting or working from home. There are a few pluses to telecommuting such as saving money on gas, staying in your pajamas all day, and being a door away from your family. Even though many people around the world work from home regularly, for most, it may be hard to make the new adjustment and stay motivated. Below are a few tips on how you can make a few changes to staying productive and motivated while adjusting to your new work environments.
- Create a designated working area
While many of our school days resulted in us getting our homework done on our beds, how many times have we gotten too comfortable under a blanket and dosed off? Probably too many times to count. Having a designated working area whether it be at your kitchen or dining table or in your home office, can help you separate what your brain considers your lounge area versus when you should be on work mode. It’s important that you have a certain area where you have the least amount of clutter and the feel the most motivated.
- Get ready for the day like you normally would
It’s very tempting to stay in your pajamas or wear your most comfortable set of sweatpants that you own but unfortunately it may hinder your ability to focus on the tasks at hand and it can be difficult to separate your work and after-work self. When you get ready for the day like you would normally, then you feel better about yourself, you get a boost in confidence, and you’re likely to be more productive.
- Have something to look forward to
Staying home for work can feel repetitive over time. It’s important to “give yourself something to look forward to, like a cup of tea every day at noon or a walk at the end of the day” as stated by one of our employees, Emma, when asked how she stays motivated.
- Organize yourself and your surroundings
Creating a set schedule for yourself daily or weekly may be one of the best ways to stay organized but don’t forget to organize your surroundings too. The less cluttered your working area is the less cluttered your brain will feel. Make your bed every morning, clean up as you go, and don’t let messes pile up!
- Reward yourself often
Giving yourself positive reinforcement is guaranteed to make whatever you are doing rewarding. When you finish a task, project, or an item on your to-do list, reward yourself with whatever it is that gives you that tiny boost of happiness (like a chocolate bar or listening to your favorite music).
- Give yourself 15-minute breaks when needed
After staring at your computer screen and sitting in the same position for an hour can be harmful to your health. Remember that regular breaks are needed to refresh our brain after staring at a lit screen for half of the day. Every hour or two, get up and give yourself a fifteen-minute break. Giving yourself a break can help boost your productivity.
- Eliminate distractions
Oftentimes, working from home can yield a lot of distractions. Whether it be your family, pets, TV, or your phone preventing you from focusing, eliminating these common forms of distractions can help you stay focused. Make sure to let your family know you’re working, separating yourself from your pets and children, and shutting off your TV or silencing your phone are a few ways that can help eliminate some of these distractions.
Working from home can be new waters for many people. However, hopefully by implementing these steps into your daily lives you can get organized and stay motivated! Telecommuting is never easy, and we encourage you to take plenty of breaks when needed and always remember to have something to look forward to. We are hopeful these steps provided you some sort of positivity as many of you take on a new working environment and are unsure of what lies ahead. We are here with you and know we will get through these difficult times together.