10 Work from Home Productivity Tips for 2024
We’re home. Again. But, is that a bad thing?
As the rules shift continually in the favor of an at-home workforce, it’s time to make some permanent changes that fuel your growth and enhance work from home productivity.
Here are 10 work-from-home productivity tips to help you make the most out of your workday.
1. Set a morning routine
A morning routine is a must to start off your day in the right way. While it can vary from person to person– there are a few morning habits that can help you get into work mode -which is the best mode to be in because you get paid.
A morning ritual like making coffee or exercising provides a great way to take on the day. Moreover, meditation and journaling are two powerful morning practices that may prove helpful in collecting your thoughts and starting off the day on the right foot. List your goals for the day and set intentions to complete them as per your schedule. There’s something satisfying about crossing things off a list. Why not do that for your goals?
2. Schedule your day
For anyone wondering how to be productive at home, the first step is to have a schedule for your day. List all your tasks for the day, divide them based on the level of priority and consider completing all tasks in small batches. Doing so will not only make the work seem less overwhelming but can also save time and help you take longer breaks in between. Monthly planners and planning apps can help you stay laser-focused and goal-oriented while scheduling.
There are some additional things to consider while scheduling your day to boost your work-from-home productivity. These include factoring in the routine of other people in the house, your usual workflow, and the schedule of your work meetings.
A pair of good noise-canceling headphones can help you cut out excessive background noise and boost concentration in your work-from-home setup. These can be especially useful if you have a full house. You don’t need to be Danny Tanner to require peace and quiet while you work. RIP Bob Saget.
3. Designated workspace
Having a dedicated work-from-home office is one of the most important ways to boost productivity. As much as it is tempting to just stay in bed and work (which we have all done at some point) — the charm wears out pretty soon.
Find a quiet, personal zone—near a window if possible— and set up your office table, a desk chair, and your favorite tabletop accessories to make it seem like a home office. An Ozmo water bottle, perhaps? Staying hydrated may help with concentration because when we’re thirsty we may become easily distracted.
You can make it look just like your office desk with the added benefit of having 24×7 access to the kitchen for any number of coffee breaks. It is also imperative to keep this an off-limits zone so that you can work without any disruptions. If you have an open floorplan, you can add a room divider or create a makeshift one out of whatever you have in the house.
4. Schedule Breaks
It’s easy to lose track of time while working from home. While in the office it is easier to distinguish work time from break time, in a home office the lines between personal space and workspace can get blurry, i.e., wearing the same sweatpants two weeks in a row. You couldn’t do that at the office unless you work for Big Sweatpant.
Pro tip: Place your phone in a separate room and use a smartwatch to track meetings and important messages but stay away from social media.
Manage your time such that you can accommodate small breaks in between and get away from the screen. Make use of the time otherwise wasted in commuting to the office and take walks outside the house to spend time in nature.
As work from home can make desk jobs even more sedentary, make sure to avoid physical inactivity by stretching, skipping rope, or dancing a bit— even if you are inside the house and can’t manage to afford long breaks.
5. Socialize and Communicate
A big drawback of remote working is the lack of interaction and bonding with colleagues. While bonding in the breakroom can create meaningful work relationships, a Zoom call and virtual coffee just don’t have the same impact.
Also, working from home makes it difficult to communicate with the supervisors and resolve any internal issues promptly. Hence, it is important to be upfront with your problems and keep a transparent line of communication to avoid misunderstandings.
Make time to interact with your colleagues. Check in on each other and offer feedback to promote a healthy work environment. You may have to endure some small talk. However, having to listen to someone’s weekend getaway to the yarn factory is worth it to ensure you have open lines of communication.
6. Use productivity tools
There is no dearth of work-from-home gadgets and productivity tools that make work life a lot easier. Find tools that can help to manage and create a to-do list, set timers, and track progress.
Consider investing in a wide-screen monitor as it can help in multitasking and working without pesky PC issues like overheating when you’re trying to play Minecraft on your lunch hour.
A tool like Trello can useful in listing tasks and tracking progress through color-coordinated labels. Making use of the technology at hand can improve work from home productivity by leaps and bounds.
7. Upskill regularly
It’s easy to get comfortable with a routine once you get accustomed to it. But unless you shake up things every now and then, it is bound to get repetitive and make you feel demotivated.
Look for opportunities to learn new things and upskill so that you can offer much more than your current work role. Try online courses that add to your resume and discover new opportunities for growth within your company or even by yourself. Working from home can allow you to pursue your passion and become a freelancer by being a specialist in your field.
8. Take time off to avoid burnout
Working from home can sometimes make it feel like you are not entitled to take time off. But it is important to take a few days off to recharge and recuperate.
As the travel restrictions relax, you can use the opportunity to take a vacation with family and unwind before going back to the usual grind.
If you do not have access to personal days or vacation days, talk to your boss. Everyone needs a break – even your boss.
9. Break the monotony
Working from home can feel like an endless loop of the same day being repeated every day with little to no change, kind of like Groundhog Day except you are not Bill Murray. Only Bill Murray is Bill Murray.
To break away from the monotony, mix things up a little and consider using co-working spaces, working in cafes or even a park (weather permitting). This brings about a refreshing change and allows us to feel more connected with our surroundings.
10. Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries while working from home is important, not just with others but also with yourself. Define some rules highlighting the times during which you should not be disturbed and make sure that your schedule does not create disruptions with someone else who is also working from home. If you have roommates, let them know when to leave you alone. The same goes for spouses and partners. Babies, however, don’t understand boundaries. They also get excited by their own feet.
The human side of working from home
You’re human. You may get distracted at home. Your kids may jump on your lap during a meeting or your cat may meow for attention in the background while you’re on a very important Slack call. These things may be unavoidable but remember, we’re all trying to make the best of an unprecedented situation.
Now, that you have these work-from-home productivity tips, get to work. And walk your dog. Fido’s been whimpering while you were on the phone with your manager.
What helps me to stay more productive when I work from home is using a productivity tool, such as kanbantool.com. It’s easy to use, it’s effective, it makes me waste less time. I love it, it makes work so much easier for me.