Maximizing Productivity When Working From Home
Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you have the freedom to set your hours and work in your pajamas if you want.
You can also take care of household tasks or children while you work. On the other hand, working from home can be lonely, and it can be difficult to stay focused when there are so many distractions at home. It can also be difficult to resist the temptation to work all the time.
Ways Any Online Freelancer Can Minimize Work Distractions
One of the biggest challenges that any online freelancer faces is dedicating at-home days to work rather than play. It is easy to embrace the freedom of online work – the variable schedules, the personal work periods, and the ease of relaxation – and take it too far.
From three-hour lunches to extended afternoon breaks browsing online videos, the potential to abuse that freedom is always lurking around the corner, or sometimes lurking right on the screen for those working from home.
Thankfully, there are tips, productivity suites, and tools that make minimizing distractions significantly simpler than it once was. From browser plug-ins to office presets, minimizing work input and boosting output is not a huge challenge.
Using these tips, tricks, and tactics, any online freelancer can maximize productivity for tasks they may not be 100% interested in but will be 100% dedicated to.
Set boundaries
Treat your work-from-home time as if you are actually at work. Whether working full time or just a couple of hours a day, it is important to set boundaries between your work time and personal time.
Just because you are not in an office does not mean that your work-from-home time should be treated differently than if you were at work.
Get dressed
Even if you are in your pajamas, getting dressed can help you feel more productive.
Something about getting dressed can make you feel more put together, even if you’re staying in your pajamas. Sure, it might seem like a waste of time to put on pants when you’re just going to stay in bed all day, but there are a few good reasons to at least get yourself dressed:
First of all, it can help you feel more productive. If you’re wearing clothes that make you feel ready to take on the world, it can be a little bit easier to get up and get going.
Second of all, putting on some clothes can help keep you warm. A lot of times, when people stay in bed all day, they end up getting colder because they’re not moving around as much.
Have a dedicated workspace
When you have a designated workspace, it can help you stay focused and organized. Having a specific area for work can improve your productivity because you won’t be as tempted to multi-task or get distracted by other things in your home.
A designated workspace can also make it easier to transition from one activity to another because everything you need will be in one place. If you struggle with staying motivated or feel overwhelmed by clutter, having a dedicated workspace may be the solution for you.
Using Website Blockers
Many people who work from home often find themselves in this situation: It is the perfect day for online productivity. They are packed with ideas for their projects and ready to begin a day of work.
Suddenly they find themselves going through their social network accounts, watching videos on YouTube, and wasting an entire hour of valuable time.
Every online freelancer has seen this happen, and it is never something that should happen regularly. Thankfully, there are apps and browser plug-ins that can put a stop to it.
One of the most innovative and useful types of browser plug-ins are those that systematically and selectively block websites that people working from home often waste time on. From social networking platforms to video sites, such apps and plug-ins can force any online freelancer to work and maximize productivity within certain periods.
Closing Email Tabs
Of course, those working from home must keep in contact with their clients. However, keeping email tabs open always does nothing but slow their work to a crawl. Therefore, the most productive online freelancers take a more advanced and productivity-friendly strategy.
They check their email accounts every two hours during the day or even once every morning and once at night.
Once they eliminate the need to check their email accounts constantly, they can focus on their online freelancing work, eliminate needless requests and distractions, and enjoy multi-hour slots of massive productivity.
Customizing Operating Systems
No matter what operating system an online freelancer uses, customization options are available for maximum work and productivity. From minimalist desktops to tailored docks and start bars, customizing a workstation for ultimate output is not at all difficult.
Those working from home can start by removing anything that does not directly contribute to productive work, or at least removing them from their dock or sidebar. Then, they can work towards putting main applications in priority spots and pushing semi-frequent use applications further away from their main productivity suites.
Those on Mac OS X have further options for customization. For example, if they favor multiple desktops, they can use Spaces to dedicate one area to online freelancing work, another for research, and another for leisure and recreation.
Take breaks
Working from home can be overwhelming, so take breaks to stay refreshed.
Working from home has many benefits, but it can also be overwhelming. So it’s important to take breaks to stay refreshed and focused. Breaks can help you stay productive and motivated.
Here are a few tips for taking breaks:
- Get up and walk around. A quick break to move your body can help refresh you mentally and physically.
- Take a few minutes to relax. Shut down your computer, take a deep breath, and relax for a few minutes. This can help clear your mind and refocus you on your work.
- Eat healthy snacks. Avoid eating unhealthy foods that will make you feel sluggish. Instead, eat healthy snacks that give you energy and help you focus.
- Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is essential for keeping your mind and body functioning at their best.
Conclusion
For those who work from home, maximizing productivity is very important. Any online freelancer can distance their work from play by following the tips above.
They can also keep their mind strictly focusing on their tasks and minimize the possibility of wasting time, aimlessly flicking from one useless activity to the next.