How to Stay Productive While Working From Home

Don’t we all just love posts on how to stay productive during the lockdown? As we reach the fifth month of living through COVID I thought it worthwhile to write a post on productivity, as an encouragement to carry on.

If you’re feeling a bit down and struggling to stay focused here are my top tips.

Of course, just as an FYI, you don’t need to be 100%, top-of-your-game productive right now. My office is living by the motto done, not perfect right now, and that’s what I would encourage people to do.

How to stay productive while working from home

Set boundaries

Set boundaries for your working day. Whether you work 9-5 or are a freelancer, you need to set some working hours for yourself! Whether that is between 5-10 am and then 6-12 pm, that’s fine. Just make sure that you don’t work out of your set hours. Just because you’re working from home, that doesn’t mean you don’t get some alone time.

Write a to-do list

Every day write a to-do list of things you must do and could do. It will keep you on track and help you prioritise, which will alleviate stress.

Keep your space clean and fresh

No one can work in an unclean area and stay on top of things. Keep your work area clear and free of clutter, wherever possible. Sometimes it’s not possible to keep the area completely clear of clutter throughout the day, but at the end of the day be sure to put away anything unnecessary or unhygienic. Put the dirty dishes and empty coffee cups in the wash, put your pens in a pot and wipe down the surfaces. It will make coming to work the following day that much easier.

Take regular breaks

Screen breaks are important and cannot be skipped! Take a 5-minute break away from the screen every hour, wherever possible. And take a full lunch break! No mid-way scheduled meetings or al-desko lunches!

Maintain open communication between you and your boss

If you have a boss or someone you work with someone closely, be sure to maintain open communication. Now is not the time to be alienating yourself from other people, or staying quiet about any issues you may be having. From tech issues to mental health issues, be sure to discuss them regularly and whenever they arise. Don’t let them fester as the first thing to go down is your productivity levels.

Make working fun!

You’re working from home! Make it fun. Sit on your sofa, or in a comfy chair with a ton of cushions or blankets. Light a candle, listen to some music or an audiobook. Surround yourself with pretty things like artwork, a corkboard for notes or your to-do or just some really awesome stationery! Self-care is super important to staying productive.

Let me know what your top tips for how to stay productive are in the comments below. I would learn to work on it as we spend more time working from home throughout the year.

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