If you’re still “working from home” and by that, we mean sitting on your bed with your computer in your lap for hours and hours, while your back slowly gives up on you and your drive and motivation dwindle? Then here are 5 amazing tips to reignite your productivity and make working from home a more enjoyable and productive experience for you.  

1. Don’t work where you sleep

Observational studies have correlated our brain activity to the room in which we are in. Step into the kitchen and you’ll automatically start craving the munchies, step into the living room and you’ll automatically be inclined to watch the tv or socialize. Similarly, our brains have conditioned our bed-rooms to be a place for resting and sleeping. Bring in work and not only will you be unable to work properly, but also in the long-term you might even suffer from serious sleep-related issues. You could find yourself experiencing sleep apnea or insomnia, which includes difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep and reduced deep-state REM sleep due to disrupted sleeping cycles. Thus, specify your place and space for work within your home, preferably someplace isolated and comfortable where you can concentrate. 

2. Set a routine and stick to it

It’s easy to get lost in the hum-drum of work, especially now that there’s no set time on work-related emails and calls, establishing a starting and a cut off time for yourself will allow you to have a certain semblance of order and work-life balance. Furthermore, setting routine breaks from the screen will allow you to not strain your eyes, give you the rest you require, and allow you to have a more enthusiastic approach to dealing with work tasks without feeling monotonous. The biggest challenge for most people who work from home is getting distracted with non-work-related tasks and procrastinating. However, with stringent timelines, you’ll continually self-monitor your performance and keep yourself in check, ensuring that you timely meet your targets and deadlines. Also, setting an exercise schedule as a part of your day is crucial to ensure that staying home doesn’t make you inactive. Setting a routine in a large part is discipline, but once you get the hang of it, sticking to it will become a habit and definitely feel more instinctive, fluid, and easy. 

3. Socialize and stay connected

The pandemic might mean your options to socialize are limited, but that in no way means becoming a hermit. Establishing and maintaining healthy work and personal connections by actively socializing virtually or in-person is key in ensuring that you don’t feel isolated as such prolonged feelings can minimize motivation, eventually resulting in a decline in work productivity. There are numerous online team and engagement activities that can be undertaken via zoom meetings remotely. Also, remember to engage with your peers and coworkers on a daily basis to share your thoughts and concerns to keep professional linkages and work visibility on the right track. Perhaps now is the time to further refine and expand your connections by becoming more active on professional sites such as LinkedIn. 

4. Keep things clean and tidy

A cluttered space more often than not leads to a cluttered mind. Just because the stack of unruly papers on your work desk and side-tables littered with coffee cups aren’t visible in your work-camera window doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. As per the National Association of Professional Organizers, cluttered workspaces translate into declining productivity that can on average result in financial losses of approximately 10% of an employee’s salary. Thus, the next time you find yourself surrounded by a disorganized workspace at home, remember that in ignoring your work area, you are actively contributing to a potential 10% loss of your salary! So, clean up the mess and keep your surroundings “ergonomically” optimal. This means making sure that you have the right tools and resources around you to effectively do your tasks with keeping clutter at a minimum to not overwhelm you.

5. Celebrate and pat yourself on the back

Establishing personalized reward systems that allow you to celebrate your wins and make you and your work feel appreciated is crucial in maintaining a high level of motivation. Perhaps the biggest challenge of working from home is a distance that results in limited or no external appreciation for work done well. Reward management is crucial. Harvard Business Review (HBR) states that recognizing and celebrating even the smallest of wins can provide us with the positive feedback that we require to work harder and keep the virtuous cycle from breaking. Renowned corporate psychologist, Steven J. Kramer writes in his book “The progress principle” that in a WFH the setting, small wins can make work seem more meaningful and can ignite joy, engagement and even creativity! 

Remember these rules tomorrow as you start your new workday at home to make your work and your life easier. And, if you want to change your work from home space, perhaps to something more comfortable or brighter, then visit Dealty today! Dealty where we make buying and selling homes simply for everyone.