Life, when you work at home, can be a juggling act. Within the space of an hour, you might have answered half a dozen emails, emptied your drier, peeled some potatoes and chatted with a client. In the next hour, you’re helping your son with his homework, signing a new internet deal, walking the dog, and writing your blog. Every moment is different as you try to find the best balance to make sure everything gets done. Is there a way working from home can be less chaotic and more productive?
Motivate your way through the day, not stimulate! Source
Stimulation and Motivation
There is a big difference between a giant espresso and the willpower needed to complete your work on time. Sure, the extra energy can help move things along, but if your mind is elsewhere, it will slow you up. Focus your attention on one thing at a time. If a message pings in, dare to leave it until you’ve finished that first task. Don’t rush off to fold the laundry until you’ve spell-checked and sent that email. Stopping in the middle of tasks can cause errors later on.
Attention to Detail
Once you’ve found your motivation and drive to focus on a single task, you need to give attention to detail. There are plenty of ways to sharpen your mind and improve your concentration. Open a window and let fresh air in. Use brighter light bulbs. You can even alter the scent in your home using products from companies like AromaTech to energize you! Turn off the TV, shut the doors, and tackle the task bit by bit. Use a second notebook and pencil to jot distracting ideas and notes down as they come so you don’t feel you’ll lose them by ignoring them temporarily.
Schedules Don’t Work
Unless you are a very seasoned worker at whatever you do, schedules rarely work. This is especially the case if you rely on others to input or feedback on your projects. One exception to this rule might be blogging. Your work is already in the public domain before you receive any feedback! Scheduling here is very important to make sure you are consistently posting and promoting your content.
Do use a timetable, though. Have a cut-off time for meals and stopping work at the end of the day. Count your hours and make sure you are not about to burn out! Pop this calendar up on the wall in your homework space. You can also use your smartphone to alert you when certain times are nearing.
A Real Desk
So you blog in bed? And you use the dining table to check your accounts? You are planning your media coverage on wardrobe doors? Productivity relies on having everything to hand. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is to have a dedicated desk that you use every day. You might not have space to take over an entire room for your home business. However, using a desk can help your posture, your focus, and your productivity. How do you juggle your work and home life to improve your productivity?