How to Work From Home: 10 Tips to Stay Productive and Focused

1. Schedule regular breaks

Working at home is different from working in an office because you don't have a lot of built-in barriers to keep you on track. With no one watching you, it can be easy to let a few hours slip away without accomplishing much. Scheduling regular breaks can help you stay productive and focused on your tasks throughout the day. Some people find that taking one-hour breaks every few hours is an excellent way to stay productive while working from home. If you work better in shorter chunks, that's okay too! Just make sure you have something planned for each break so it doesn't turn into wasted time. These breaks can take many forms but should include something that makes you feel refreshed and renewed. For example, you might walk outside, meditate, or even shower. Whatever it is, use these breaks to give your mind a chance to rest between tasks.

2. Make a schedule that works for your brain

You don't have to follow the 9-to-5 schedule if you work from home, but you also don't want to be utterly unproductive because you're unstructured. Some people work well with a strict schedule, while others prefer flexibility. Whichever you prefer, the most important thing is that you create a schedule that allows you to accomplish your tasks and maintain your productivity throughout the day. Whether you prefer to work in a strict 9-to-5 schedule, one large chunk of time or a combination of both, the most important thing is that you make a schedule for yourself that works for your own brain.

3. Take a real lunch break (no skipping!)

Working from home allows you to take your lunch break when you want to and not when someone tells you to, but that doesn't mean you should skip it. Taking a real break to eat and recharge will help you stay much more productive than skipping lunch and trying to push through. The difference between a 9-to-5 job and working from home is that you have much more control over what you do during and between tasks. That means you might burnout in the middle of the day if you don't take a break (whether it's a lunch break or something else). This can lead to you not being as productive as you could be, which defeats the purpose of working from home.

4. Plan your to-do list and schedule in advance

Even if you work with a very loose schedule, you can still plan out your to-do list in advance. This allows you to be mindful of what you need to get done during the day and can help combat the "I don't know what to do next" feeling that can plague you at home. You can plan out your to-do list in as much or as little detail as you like. For example, you can write down the tasks you have to do or create a more complex system that considers the time you think each task will take and how much time you want to leave between each one. Whatever you choose, just having a to-do list and some idea of what to do during the day can help you stay focused and productive.

5. Schedule calls wisely – they can be a total time-suck

Working from home means you're likely to talk regularly with many people. You may want to meet some of these people in person, and others you'll only ever talk with via phone or video chat. Try to schedule calls with people as far in advance as possible. This allows you to block off the time on your calendar (and your to-do list!) and will help you avoid squeezing calls in at the last minute. If it's possible to avoid the last-minute phone call, do it. If you have to call people at the last minute, try to make them as short as possible.

6. Be mindful of your self-distracting habits

When working from home, you must be careful not to let your self-distracting habits get the best of you. You might have some specific things you do every day that you don't even realize are a waste of time, which could be taking away from your work time and keeping you from becoming more productive. For example, when you get home, do you spend time scrolling through social media? Do you take an extended break every afternoon to watch TV? How often do you check your email? If you want to be more productive when working from home, you'll want to be mindful of your self-distracting habits and try to cut them as much as possible.

7. Pick out a playlist for the occasion

Many people like to listen to music while they work, whether because they need help staying focused or just enjoying the tunes. However, if you work from home, you might not want to blast music all day long. Instead, when you're ready to focus on a task, try putting on a playlist that will help get you in a productive mood. For example, try a playlist full of upbeat songs if you want to kickstart your energy levels in the morning. Or, if you want to keep your focus during the evening when your energy might be dipping, a calmer playlist might be more helpful.

8. Try to schedule 30 minutes of self-care every day

Whether you work from home or not, taking good care of yourself is essential. Working from home, however, can be an exceptionally overwhelming and draining experience for many people. In addition, working from home means that you're on your own:

• There's no one to talk with at the end of the day.

• There's no one to catch you when you need a break.

• No one can tell you when you've been working too long.

To stay healthy and productive while working from home, you should schedule 30 minutes of self-care daily. This can take many forms, but you must find something you enjoy that makes you feel good. Whether it's yoga or meditation, reading a book, or enjoying a hobby, you need to make time every day to do something that is just for you.

9. Don't stretch yourself too thin

Working from home can seem like a dream come true: no commute, no dress code, and more flexibility for working around your schedule. However, it can also be a nightmare if you stretch yourself too thin and take on too many projects or responsibilities. When working from home, it's essential to keep your eye on the ball: to focus on the task at hand and finish it before moving on to the next. You don't want to stretch yourself too thin because you feel you need to do everything at once or have difficulty saying "no." You can't do everything because there are only so many hours in the day. Don't stretch yourself too thin; focus on what you need to do and be productive with your time.

10. Set expectations with other people in your home

You might be tempted to work from home with the assumption that you'll now have a quiet house.

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