5 Tips to Stay Productive While Working From Home

Get dressed every morning.

I find it extremely important to change out of my pajamas every day. I don’t care whether I’ll be video conferencing with anyone that day or not. It makes me feel better, and also makes me feel like I’ve started my day, if I change into something other than whatever I wore to bed the night before.

Do all of your cleaning before work.

If you’re a neat freak like me, you’ll hate working knowing the dishes are piled up, the floor needs to be vacuumed, and the cat’s litter box needs to be cleaned. I make sure to try and do as much cleaning before my working hours as possible. Then I don’t have to spend all day worrying about how much I have to do after work.

Make sure your working area is comfortable.

I moved in with my boyfriend almost two years ago (boy, time is flying by). I knew I wanted to have a spot reserved for my little ‘office’. We had to buy plenty of other things for the apartment, and I couldn’t justify buying a new desk when I had one already, even though it was over 10 years old.

After working at my small, wobbly, cramped desk for almost a year, I couldn’t take it anymore. I got rid of the desk and upgraded to a new corner desk I put together using products from Ikea. It has more than double the space than my old desk. I also have a drawer/file cabinet which is really helpful for storing everything that was once squished all over my desk.

Having a comfortable work area that isn’t cramped has made my work days so much more enjoyable. I honestly wish I would have done it sooner!

Move around and get some fresh air.

It’s very easy to forget that you’re sitting in a chair all day long. That’s not good for your health at all in the long run. Every once in a while make sure to get up and walk around, or even better, take a quick walk outside (weather permitting of course). It’ll give your mind a break and also give your back and butt a break from being so stationary!

Don’t overwork yourself.

I absolutely love what I do. When I have a project that’s really fun to work on, I can get lost in it and lose track of time. Before you know it, I’ve worked an extra 3+ hours and forgot to eat dinner. When you love what you do, it’s easy to get lost in what you’re doing.

It’s also easy to get overwhelmed by your workload and feel the need to work extra hours to catch up. When you work from home, you won’t have an excuse that you need to leave the office at 5 to make it home in time for dinner. You’re already home!

You need to make sure you have a separation between work and personal time. Make time for yourself and make sure your mind gets an adequate amount of rest. Being burnt out mentally is no good for you, and it makes you less productive during your work hours. Get your rest and you’ll be ready to tackle your to-do list the next day!

What do you do to stay productive?

Everyone has different tips and tricks that help them on a daily basis. What tips do you have for staying productive from your home office?