There are several advantages of working from home but at the same time, it can be a real struggle. While it’s awesome to have loads of flexibility, and reports say that working from home increases productivity overall, it can also be very distracting.
Staying motivated while working from home.
1. Make a Home Office
Most people enjoy sitting on their couch, watching television, or snacking in the kitchen. But, let’s face it, if you try and combine working with your home activities, you’re not going to be very motivated to get work done.
2. Wake Up Early
Getting up early is difficult even when you have the pressure of being in the office at 8:00 am every morning.
When you are working from home and have no set schedule it can be much harder
If you want to stay motivated set a specific time to wake up every day.
3. Create a Regular Routine
You may be tempted to just wing it every day, but if you do that, you’ll soon find yourself disorganized and overwhelmed.
A better idea is to approach your work as the creature of habit you are. Determine when you do your best work, and then set a regular work schedule.
4. Plan on Taking Regular Breaks
Work can pile up and you think it’s wise to work through your breaks but science tells a different story.
- Breaks, even just mental breaks to daydream, can help you make connections and improve brain function (Science Daily)
- Taking brief breaks helps you stay focused (Science Daily)
- Breaks help you reevaluate your goals and keeps you on track (Harvard Business Review)
- The Atlantic has a formula identifying the perfect work-break balance. The Atlantic suggests working for 52 minutes and then taking a break for 17 minutes.
5. Get out of your PJ’s
While not wearing pants at work sounds great in theory, it will not help with your motivation.
Wearing nice clothing can help boost your confidence and make you feel more powerful, you feel better about yourself and are more productive.
6. Reduce distractions
We can all to easily get sucked down the rabbit hole of Facebook or the endless videos on YouTube.
Plan to only check your social media and phone during your scheduled breaks, or schedule a specific time to check them.
8. Reward yourself
I don’t know about you but I really enjoy my coffee, and if I told myself I couldn’t have my next cup until I finished X,Y, and Z I would be pretty motivated.
What rewards do you love? Maybe it’s time to read 1 more chapter in that amazing book you are reading, a walk around the block, a glass of wine, or maybe it’s your fave show on Netflix.
Reward yourself for a job well done.
9. Get away from your desk
If you are really not feeling it try getting a change of scenery.
You could go for a walk, take a drive, or get your reward coffee at the drive-thru instead of at home.