It’s 2:00 p.m. on a Thursday. You’re still in your pajama pants. You’ve barely touched the multiple to-do lists peppered across your desk. And you’re still frustrated about last night. A client contacted you after business hours about urgent changes to a project that “shouldn’t take long.”
We know it can be hard to work from home.
Maybe you had to quickly transition to working from home when the pandemic began, or maybe you’ve been working remotely for years.
But you’re certain of one thing: working from home isn’t working for you.
We’ve been there. Here are 5 of our favorite ways to maximize productivity during your workday.
1. Have a morning routine.
Get out of your pajamas. Eat a hearty breakfast. Pour your coffee and enjoy it while you make your one to-do list for the day.
Prefer pen and paper? Write your tasks in the order you want to complete them or separate them into columns with headings like “urgent” and “can wait until tomorrow.” If you like a digital to-do list instead, find a good task management app for making lists or managing projects — there are plenty out there!
You’ll be ready to get to work when you can see all of your urgent and upcoming tasks in one place. Some apps we've used are Microsoft To Do List, MeisterTask, Trello, and ClickUp.
2. Use a cloud service.
When you use a cloud service, you can access your work from anywhere. You can also easily share your files and collaborate with others.
This is a game changer if you have small children at home. You can use a cloud service to access your files on your phone or a tablet if you need to work and keep an eye on your kids in their room or the yard.
Here are some of our favorites: Dropbox, Sync, Google Drive, and Dubox.
3. Set some boundaries.
First, establish boundaries around your time by maintaining normal working hours. Put your office hours in your email’s signature. Create an automated email that lets clients and coworkers know you will respond during working hours the next day or when you’re back from vacation.
Second, have a dedicated workspace. If possible, put your desk in a separate room — away from where you spend your time when you’re not working. Get creative if you don’t have the extra space.
Third, be honest with friends and family about when you are and aren’t available. Because you work from home, they might not always understand you’re still working (very hard!). It’s possible to be kind but clear about your work schedule.
4. Take a break.
Leave your home on your lunch break a couple of days a week. Go for a walk outside. Get some fresh air in the middle of your morning or afternoon.
Sometimes, breaks are just what you need to clear your mind and overcome what’s had you feeling stumped.
5. Ask for help.
You might have fewer interruptions at home than if you worked in an office. Maybe you get overly optimistic about what you can accomplish in a day. But you can’t do it all.
Remember that it’s okay to ask for help!
If you’re overwhelmed running a business from home, let us relieve some pressure. Schedule a call with Sigl Creative for a digital marketing consultation. Our team of creatives can handle your marketing so you can focus on your passion again.
We are confident you will thrive at home if you implement some or all of these during your workday!
