5 Top Tips for Working Productively from Home

The COVID-19 pandemic changed everyone’s lives, causing a lot of people to work from home. Working from home became a necessity during this time when it was once seen as a luxury. Although many people have gone back to work, many businesses have introduced a phased return, hybrid working, or are completely working from home. But how can professionals work productively from home?

There are many benefits of working from home that many of us enjoy, such as no commute! However, working from home can also present challenges. In the office, the only distractions were chatting to work colleagues or maybe popping out for lunch. These are great when you want to socialise but can cause a lot of unproductivity if you find it hard to concentrate or get distracted easily.

On the other hand, working from home can also be a distraction, especially if you have children or pets. And if it’s the summer holidays, it’s guaranteed to be harder trying to juggle two things at once. Even when there are no work colleagues around to distract you, you’ll soon realize that they also helped keep you accountable and on the ball when working. At home, no one’s watching you, so there’s no peer pressure, and you may lose motivation (and end up working in your PJs).

So, if you are reading this and sitting in your PJs (don’t worry, you’re not alone) and are lacking some motivation to work from home, then here are five top tips to help you feel more productive.

1. Plan What You’re Working On Ahead of Time

It’s good practice to plan before the next working day what you need to prioritize. Leaving it till the same day can ultimately take away valuable time that could be used to be productive. Also, it’s likely that because you’ve planned so recently, you’ll end up changing your plan because you’ve not thoroughly thought it through.

It is hard a lot of the time to completely stick to an agenda, especially when urgent last-minute work may come in that you need to prioritize first. But creating a plan the day before can allow you to book this all into your agenda.

If you know on Fridays you’re more likely to receive last-minute projects, then leave time aside or simply schedule less on your to-do list for that day.

Make it a habit to finish each day with your planned agenda for the next day. It will make it more official, and you’ll wake up the next morning with a clear objective of what you’re going to achieve that day.

It’s also very rewarding when you tick something off your list the next day. It gives you momentum and motivation to keep completing each task on your agenda.

2. Get Ready for the Day! Shower, Change Your Clothes as Though You’re Leaving Your Home

It may sound odd to help productivity, but this tip is very important. Other than the obvious benefits like being hygienic, getting ready for the day (and not staying in your PJs) allows time for your brain to wake up. You’ll also feel like a fully functioning adult ready to take on the day.

Working as soon as you wake up leaves you feeling sluggish and demotivated. Doing such a small thing as showering and changing your clothes will get you in the right mindset.

You do not need to wear uncomfortable corporate office wear, but even athleisure is way better than wearing last night’s PJs!

3. Schedule Big Tasks When You’re Most Productive

It’s an unsaid fact that not a single person works at 100% throughout the entire day, morning to night. You’ll have times when you feel at your most productive and times when you’ll dip and need a coffee or a little break.

When you’re working from home, it’s really important to know when these dips usually occur so you can plan ahead of time and try to work around them.

Save your most productive times of the day for your bigger, more challenging tasks. We’ve found mornings are the best time of the day for bigger projects. This is when we’re feeling fresh, full of coffee, and motivated.

Use your slower times of the day for smaller, easier tasks. This is the time for those little admin and logistical things you need to get done. These are the kind of tasks where you need little brain power to complete them.

You’ll know when you’re most productive, so build your plan around those times to fully get the most out of the day. If you do find yourself slipping or becoming less productive, try setting time limits.

A good one for working from home is to use your washing machine or dishwasher as a timer to work solidly for 30 minutes to an hour. Then take a break when your washing or dishes are finished. It makes you feel like you're being doubly productive, getting your work and household chores done all in one.

4. Designated Workspace

If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room that you’re not using or you already have an office, you’re one of only a few who have this luxury.

The ideal space is somewhere away from distractions, somewhere that doesn’t have a TV or an abundance of snacks to distract you.

Make sure to organise your space each evening. Put everything you’ll be using in one place – pens, notebook, laptop, and charger so then you’ll be all set and not frantically looking for a pen before your 9 am meeting.

If you can shut the door to this space and only use it for your designated area to work, that’s great! It helps keep your work-life balance at work separate.

The last thing you need to do is make sure your workspace is comfy. Try not to work on the sofa though; this is perhaps just a bit too comfy and will most likely make you feel demotivated.

It's much better to sit at a desk or table when working from home. Use cushions behind your back and a box to put your feet on if you don’t have a proper office chair.

5. Go Out or Exercise on Your Lunch Break

The final tip is one that has benefits to both your productivity and health. Getting out of your home and either going on a little walk to pick up a coffee or exercising will greatly benefit you.

Working from home can really be tough sometimes; there’s this sluggish behavior you easily get into. But getting a bit of exercise, even for just 20 minutes, will get you feeling more energetic and consequently more motivated, and don’t forget the release of endorphins you’ll receive too.

There are so many apps now that create easily at-home workouts that you’ll be spoilt for choice – from yoga to more cardio-based exercises such as HIIT.

If possible and depending on the weather, exercising outdoors is the best way to combat brain fatigue. Green space is great for your mental health, so going for a walk and getting some fresh air and Vitamin D will reduce stress and wake your brain up for a more productive afternoon.

Top Tips for Working Productively from Home

These 5 top tips have been created to help you make the most out of working from home.

It may not always feel like a blessing when you’re not returning to the office, especially if you are new to the working from home life, but little things like not commuting and being able to spend more time with family are well worth the change. Embracing hybrid working and understanding the benefits of working from home can enhance your overall work-life balance at work.

If you found this blog helpful, we provide professional development accredited and non-accredited programmes that help you progress in your career. We are a subsidiary of the University of Salford and based in Greater Manchester – training over 9,000 clients per year through both classroom and virtual classroom courses. Find out more here.