Working from home has its ups and downs like any other job. In some ways it can appear leisurely and luxurious. Those working nine until five office jobs crave the informality of working from home. And in many ways it is all they think it is. But there are downsides to working from home as well. It can be hard to motivate yourself to work, or to get work done as effectively as you would if you were in an office. Here are five tips for working more effectively from home.
Set a Schedule
It seems so simple and bland, but it truly does work. If you don’t have a schedule, the chances are that you will waste more time than you spend working. He trick is to treat it like any other job. Sit down at your desk at nine and work until you deserve a break. Don’t mess around just because there’s nobody there to supervise you. It will only end up meaning more work for you in the long run.
Set Goals
If you’re jittery or have a low attention span, it’s a good idea to set yourself goals to motivate you to get things done. Tell yourself that you won’t have another coffee until you finish writing up that report, or that you won’t have break until a certain amount of work has been completed. Once you get into the habit of setting your own goals and meeting them, working effectively will come easier.
Listen to Music
The right music can make a huge difference to your motivation. Try listening to some of your favourite tunes while you work. But make sure that you choose the right music. Different styles will be more effective for different kinds of work.
Use Diaries and Calendars
One of the best ways to keep track of your work and making sure that you are getting things done is to keep a calendar or diary. Write down everything that needs to be done, and when it needs to be done by. A good technique is to write it into your diary a week earlier than it needs to be done. This may help you to get things done quicker and more effectively.
Don’t get Distracted
Becoming distracted is one of the hardest things about working from home. It’s so easy to quickly check your emails or social media accounts and get carried away for hours on end. A good idea is to make sure you don’t have anything running in the background. Log out of Facebook until your work is well and truly done.
It’s important to treat working from home the same way you would any other job. If you take it lightly and don’t put in the effort, the chances are that you won’t get the results you could have. Be harsh and disciplined on yourself. Set goals and keep them.
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