Ideally, people who work in offices are often laser-focused on their tasks. Being focused at work means that they are efficient and making the most out of their day. In the ideal working conditions, there are close to zero distractions. Working in ideal conditions makes employees more focused and concentrated on their jobs.
Not only that, but people also need a mobile device, a laptop, or a desktop PC. These two tools are essential for home-based work, but they can also be a distraction. Compared to working at the office, working at home is indeed a challenge. Here are some ways to help you get the most out of your day.
Time Management
Whatever article you read about working at home, you’ll always encounter time management. Time management is the single most effective way of getting the most out of your day. To manage your time better, we highly suggest that you have a way of timing tasks.
You can try out the Tomato Timer or Pomodoro method, which times each of your tasks into 25-minute periods with 5-minute breaks. After the 4th 25-minute period is over, you can take a more extended 15-minute break. Having a conscious outlook on your tasks and the time to do it makes you more efficient. You also don’t have to worry about burning out as the 5-minute break is more than enough to relax you.
Plan Your Tasks
Before starting anything, always plan what you need to do for the day. When you’re working at home, we all have to accept that distractions are typical, and there’s little you can do about it. For example, most people often skip working because of a TV Show or some other task.
When you plan your tasks, always make sure that you work on it without any long breaks. When you suddenly shift your focus from work to some other tasks, you might get tired and abandon your work. Most of us call this strange behavior procrastination. Procrastination is never healthy and should always be avoided, regardless of where you are working.
Set Small Goals
When you are facing a major task, it can be a bit overwhelming. If you are having a hard time accomplishing a job, try breaking it into smaller tasks. As much as possible, be more specific when you dissect it. You can also put a course of action for every task to make it easier for you. Be true to what you can and can’t do within the day, hour, or minute. In short, set realistic deadlines for yourself. Not doing so can cause burnout and fatigue.
Avoid Working Late Hours
Avoid cramming all your work into the late hours of the evening or the early hours of the morning. People who have home-based jobs should get all the sleep they want without compromising work. To do this, try to finish all your tasks before sleeping time.
If you’re working for a client in a different time zone, make sure you finish everything within your shift. When you wake up from a disorganized working setup, you’ll quickly get tired and may end up not doing anything at all.
Eat Right
Aside from sleep, eating right is also another way to make the most of your tasks when you work from home. Typically, most people wake up around 7 or 8 am and go to work around 9, or 10 am. When you’re at work, you don’t have to deal with travel and traffic. Make the most of the time by waking up early and eating your breakfast as well.
Although eating is an essential way to make you healthy, overeating may have adverse effects. For one, eating food such as turkey, ham, or any protein-rich meals can make your body fatigued.
Always go for healthy alternatives such as fresh veggies and fruits. You can still eat protein, although you should do so in moderation.
Rest Days
Even if you’re working from home, do remember that you still deserve rest days. You might want to allocate essential activities you want to do on this day. For example, on your rest day, you can go spend time with your family, exercise, play video games, or plainly relax. Always plan your rest days accordingly as these crucial days are a must if you want to avoid stress and burnout.
In A Nutshell
Nowadays, a lot of people are working at home. However, a lot of them aren’t used to working with a ton of distractions. The tips mentioned will help those coping with a new working environment. However, remember that being productive all the time is not always a good thing.
Never compromise your well-being to accomplish a job.
