It's a dream of many girls. Getting to work from the comfort of your own couch, while wearing your favorite sweatpants. If you do reach this goal, it's important to figure out how to be productive working from home. Otherwise, you'll lose that job you worked so hard to get.
Working from home is increasingly appealing, and made feasible thanks to technology. However, when away from the office environment, it's easy to get distracted - so here's how to be productive working from home.
One of the best answers to how to be productive working from home is to turn of your cell. During "working hours" switch off your phone or only answer work-related calls. You don't have to answer it just because it rings! Also ignore Whatsapp or Snapchat messages and social media notifications.
Create a timetable and stick to it. Build in breaks, and don't do anything that's not work related during your work time.
If you work best in the morning or late evening, schedule your work hours for that time. Don’t get to work at 7am if you really struggle to get out of bed. Work with your body clock.
It's not always possible to have a separate room for your home office. If you can't, try to screen off a work area.
It is so easy to sit around and work in your pyjamas but you will be in a better frame of mind for work if you get dressed as if you had to go to the office.
One thing that makes it hard to be productive when working from home is that other people don't see it as working. Make it clear that you're not free for coffee, a chat, dealing with workmen or any other timewasters - you are WORKING.
It's difficult to be productive if you don't know what tasks you have to complete! Assess what you have to do, and organise your work for the day/week.
When you don't have a boss watching you, it's easy to get distracted. Imagine that you're your own boss, and make yourself get on with the work.
If you really find it difficult to stop yourself looking at social media or reading websites that are not related to work, install an app that allows you to block certain websites.
If you run your own business from home, it's tempting to work every day because you don't want to turn down work. But you will increase your productivity by taking time off, as you will be able to concentrate better and won't burn yourself out.