19 Ideas and Tips to Increase Productivity While Working at Home
As some companies recall their workforce back to the office, many opt to make the remote working move permanent. For me, this is the case. My company’s VP was mostly against remote working until the pandemic happened. Since then, he has changed his mind as he could see all of the positives that have come from it.
One of the biggest surprises he had was productivity while working at home. In this article, I want to go through things I did to increase productivity while working at home.
1. Create a Distraction-Free Environment
One of the most important items to increase productivity while working at home is a distraction-free environment. There are so many more distractions while working from home.
Some distractions include:
- Large house chores
- Easy access to the TV
- Lack of peer accountability
- Pets and kids
It is crucial to set up boundaries with all of these distractions. Try to complete larger chores the night before work. It is okay to do small chores throughout the day as a quick break between projects.
Try unplugging the TV, so it is harder to turn it on.
Set up breaks that include your pets or kids, letting them know you are unavailable at other times. I have set up a two-sided green/red sign on my office door. Green tells my kids and wife I can be bothered. Red signals that I am unavailable.
Most importantly, make sure your workspace is set up in an area cut off from the rest of the house. Sometimes this is not possible, though. Try finding a corner of your home that is out of the way from these distractions.
2. Have a Dedicated Workspace
As mentioned above, distractions can decrease your productivity while working at home. Having a dedicated workspace in the corner of your home away from heavily trafficked areas is very important. This dedicated space is important because it helps get your mindset to work. For example, if you are working from the couch one day, the dining room table the next day, then the porch table another day, your brain will have trouble being fully engaged.
Of course, there are exceptions that we will talk about in tip #19.
3. Take Frequent Breaks
I like to take a quick five to ten-minute break from everything every 60-90 minutes. I try to give my brain and eyes a break from the computer during this time. These short breaks allow me to return rested to focus on the project.
4. Be Sure to Move
Sitting all day is horrible for our bodies. One thing to do on your breaks is to get up and move. I make sure I do some movement for some breaks, such as pushups, jumping jacks, high knees, or jump rope. You could do all of these movements in five minutes easily. The goal is to get your heart rate up and get your blood flowing again. This movement stimulates your brain and helps wake you up.
5. Eat Healthily
My wife and I eat reasonably healthy throughout the week. Since starting this routine, I have noticed that my energy levels are high. I love it!
Try eating more fruit and vegetables instead of munching on chips, cookies, and candy bars throughout the day. I have found that these keep my cravings more satisfied because I can eat more without feeling too guilty.
6. Create a Morning Routine
One thing that has helped me is my daily routine. This routine helps set the expectations for the day.
I start the day off at 4:45 am with a 45-minute workout. I then get the kids ready for the day, followed by a shower. Once my family is out of the door, I make breakfast and work on Wallet Squirrel for an hour. Then, at 7:30 am, I am at my dedicated workspace to start my 9-5 job. This last step leads me to my next tip to increase productivity while working at home.
7. Write Down Your Tasks For the Day
At 7:30 am, I always start my workday with emails and figure out what I will tackle during the day. I try not to overfill my day because random interruptions or fires need to be taken care of. This task list helps me stay focused on what needs to be done for the day. If I did not have this list, my mind would wander all over the place, and nothing would get done.
8. Find an Accountability Partner
Accountability partners at work are a great thing to have. I recommend leaning on a teammate or maybe your boss to help you stay accountable on your daily or weekly goals. This partner can help you stay focused or help you improve if you do not make your goals.
You can also return the favor to your teammate.
9. Experiment to Find What is Right for You
What works for me might not work for you. It is essential to keep your options open to determine what works best for you. For instance, most people only have one dedicated workspace. I have two dedicated spaces that I bounce back and forth between. This movement helps me stay focused.
Don’t be afraid to experiment if something is not working out for you.
10. Make Sure You Get Out of the House
I have to be purposeful to make sure I get out of the house. I didn’t leave the house for three weeks when I started working remotely. I didn’t realize how hard this was on me until I went to pick up groceries for the first time. My brain loved the exposure outside.
Now I make sure I drive somewhere at least once a week. I also take a two-mile walk around the park by our house every day. These trips help clear my mind.
11. Use the Flexibility to Your Advantage
I have noticed that I am happier because of the flexibility that working from home allows. This happiness has converted into an increase in productivity while working at home. I can easily step away at appropriate times to take care of an appointment or get a quick chore done. But, of course, I need to make up the time, but this flexibility saves me from taking PTO. I can then use the PTO when it matters.
Of course, not every employer is flexible like mine is, so I highly recommend taking advantage of this new workspace benefit.
12. Standing Can Help Regain Focus
I have been using a standing desk long before the pandemic came around. When I start losing focus or sleepiness begins to settle in, simply standing up can fix that. If you can, I highly recommend investing in a standing desk. They are very beneficial beyond regaining focus or helping wake you up. They also have health benefits such as helping stretch those muscle groups that get shortened while sitting.
This muscle shortening could be one reason why you have hip and lower back pain.
You might be surprised; they are not as expensive as you might think. This is the standing desk I was able to grab.
13. Have Access to Music
Music can change your mood. I am listening to music as I write this post. For me, it helps me stay focused and energized while working. I like to switch between music and podcasts, depending on what I am working on. Spotify is an excellent service to help you out!
I have noticed that I can focus better on new music that I do not know and mix up genres almost every day.
14. Dress Like You Are Going to the office
Dressing like you are going into the office can help put your brain engaged in work mood. Simple queues like this can help you get ready to work like you are in the office. You do not have to dress formally to get this effect but wearing something more formal than your PJ’s, or athletic gear will help out.
I have also started wearing shoes in the house, another one of those small queues.
15. Set Up a Solid Work Schedule
As mentioned before, I like to start my workday early. I am a morning person, so the earlier I can start, the better I can be. I have noticed that my productivity goes down as the afternoon gets later. Currently, I work from 7:30 am till 4:00 pm with a 45-minute lunch. This schedule is a happy balance between my needs and my customer’s needs. I am not there too early, so I can be there for them in the afternoon if they need anything.
16. Practice Hyper Focus
Hyper Focus is a fantastic book about focusing on your projects. One of the principles within the book was to turn off everything for a work session. I look at this session being 60-90 minutes. During this time, you rid yourself of ALL distractions to stay focused on the project at hand.
The theory is that you will get more done by going into hyper focus for one task at a time. I have found this to be true.
17. Engage With Co-Workers
While you might not be in the office anymore, it is still important to engage with your co-workers. For example, we have a Zoom chatroom just for that ‘watercooler’ talk. We also do a monthly meeting just for reconnecting and playing some virtual games.
These engagements help boast spirits, which can increase productivity while working from home. Well, unless you do not enjoy your co-workers. In that case, I’m sorry.
18. It’s Okay to Move Around the House Sometimes
While we talked about having a dedicated workspace in your home, it is okay to move around the house sometimes. I will move around a couple of times a week for an hour or two. The change in scenery helps me regain some focus when I am struggling. It helps break up any ruts that I might get into.
My favorite place to go is out on our back patio when the right temperature allows.
Not happy with your job or looking to earn some extra money? Over the years, Andrew and I have put together a massive list of ways to make money. I highly recommend you check out this list to see if anything catches your eye!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
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