Those of us who have been working from home since the start of the pandemic (or before) know the struggle of being and staying productive, because we still have to take care of the household (and the kids, don’t forget the kids). So, how can we achieve productivity? Check out these tips:
Set a Clear Schedule with Your Family
If you and your spouse are both working from home, the best way you can stay productive is to take turns in doing house work. Say you do your work from morning until lunchtime; your spouse takes care of the kids and the cooking and cleaning. Once your schedule is up, then you can take your turn taking care of the house and kids.
Have a Designated Workspace
Sometimes, though, your kids will need your help. So, set up a system that works for you and your kids (or your spouse, if he or she needs you). Check out this sign that a mom hung up on her home office to establish clear work schedules with her family.
Working on the couch or your bed can be very tempting. It’s so easy to forget you’re working when you have some place to lie down and rest. So, best if you get yourself a work table or take a portion of your dining area and set up your office there. Having a designated workspace helps you in focusing on your work. Plus, it makes working more efficient because all of the supplies that you’ll need are already there. Your earphones (for video conferences), chargers, pens, notepads, etc.
Do Deep Work During Quiet Times
Whether it is early in the morning or late at night, you will find that you can do so many things when it seems like you have the entire house to yourself. Schedule this deep work before or after your spouse and kids are asleep.
Take Breaks
Nothing else recharges your body and mind better than taking breaks. So, schedule them into your working hours too. Once you have finished a task or two, take 15-20 minutes to hang out with your kids or your pets.
Set a Time for Checking Your Emails and Social Media
Social media is the death of productivity. So, when it’s your working hours, turn off all of your notifications. Check your email once in the morning, once in the afternoon, then once before you end your work. Another pro-tip is having a system for sorting your emails. When you check your email in the morning, flag the ones you will respond to later (non-urgent and emails that require longer responses), delete the unnecessary ones, and reply to the ones that will take you 2 minutes to compose a response to. Then, come afternoon and then again in the evening, work on the ones you flagged.
Plan for the Next Day
This is the best trick to having a good night’s sleep. Planning for the next day takes loads of weight off your shoulders, because the thinking that you need to do the next day is crossed off of your list. Plus, this eliminates procrastination.
So, there you go – 6 ways you can conquer productivity at home.
Elevate Outsourcing is ALWAYS open to answer your questions. So, don’t hesitate to call us at 704-862-4795 or email us at [email protected] for your questions or concerns.