Disclosure: As a career writer and Work Life Management expert, I have partnered with Boise Paper to share Work Life Management tips.
Working from home has its challenges. Learn my tips for being efficient and working smarter, not harder while working from home.
More and more professionals are working from home these days. Whether you own your own business, or have the option of tackling your workload in the comfort of the home office, its a practice that can be difficult. With so many distractions and in more casual surroundings, working from home isn’t easy. But with a little initiative, proactivity, and creativity, it can be a positive experience.
Work Life Management is the act of executing and overseeing one’s work life and personal life in a positive way. I’m sharing a few Work Life Management tips when working from home that you can utilize right away to assist you in getting the most out of both your worlds.
Designated Work Hours
Working from home can cause you to work more hours than you would at your typical workspace because you are doing business while in your living space. Because there’s no superior to report to on-sight and you don’t have clock-in or clock-out privileges, you can find yourself working day in and day out. Don’t make this habit. Instead, create designated work hours and post them on your home office door or in your work area as a reminder to you and others. This will help you stick to those hours and help your family utilize boundaries. You can use Boise POLARIS Multipurpose paper to create a sign that notifies you and your family of your work hours.
Try not to conduct business in areas of your home that are supposed to be used for rest and relaxation or other activities (i.e. the bedroom, living room, family room, or kitchen). Keep all office supplies and equipment in that area, and use it only while working.
45/15 min Rule
Being sedentary is often the result of working from home. Not much movement is required—no walking to and from the parking lot, taking the stairs to your floor, or visiting other offices or conference rooms. All of those things make you move while working in an office, but when working from home, you have to be proactive.
This is where the 45/15 minute rule comes in. For every 45 minutes of sit-down time, get up and move for 15 minutes. This could be walking the dog, walking in place while on a conference call, or even doing a few yoga poses while you take a break. Set a timer on your computer or smart phone to nudge you when it’s time to move.
Time Management Apps
When working from home, time management can be hard to navigate because you are often working alone, without someone to keep you on track. Time management applications can assist in keeping you on track so that you can be productive. Apps like SelfControl were created to help keep you from being distracted on Facebook or other sites while you should be working. Todoist also works as your assistant to help you stay on top of your daily tasks. You can read more about productivity apps and time management tools HERE.
Reward System
There are so many distractions when working from home. In order to keep you productive and on task, set up a reward system that will help motivate you. This can be anything from a massage at the spa to dinner at one of your favorite restaurants. Set up the reward to match your goal, and this can help keep you focused.
Inspiration
Since there aren’t any teams or colleagues in your home that can give you support and encouragement physically, you can use visuals to drive you. Take some of your favorite quotes, add a frame, and use them as desk decor–and as a reminder to reach for success.
The quote seen in this post was printed on Boise POLARIS Multipurpose paper, and truly inspires.
Ask for Assistance
You should never feel like working from home means that you have to do it alone. Asking for assistance when needed is key to being successful, no matter where you work. Hire an assistant or intern if you can, or ask for someone from your home office to work with you virtually. This can help you truly harness your power and get the most out of your workday.
Working from home can be a challenge, but with these suggestions, you can get a lot achieved.
What are some of your tips for working from home?
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