8 Expert Tips to Help Improve Work From Home Performance
Working from home may come with many distractions, but if you follow these eight expert tips, you may be productive.
1) Get Organized in Advance
Have a plan and stick to it. Keep spreadsheets on your desk or on your phone to track the tasks you need to be completed, stay on top of deadlines, and determine what needs your attention next.
2) Map Out Your Day
Tiny breaks in the day can help boost your energy level. If you find yourself getting caught up in distractions, it may help to map out the hours of your work day and schedule 5-10 minute breaks to stretch, get a cup of coffee or tea, chat with colleagues via instant messaging (like Skype), or read something that takes your mind off work.
3) Set a Workspace
We all work better in different environments. You may find that the kitchen table isn’t the best place to focus, but you can get more done if you set up shop elsewhere. Try different places to see what works best for you. If possible, keep your workspace, like family members or pets, without distractions.
4) Create a Daily Checklist
Get into creating a full list of tasks to complete each day. Start your day with a short break, and then begin tackling your tasks one by one until it’s time to call it quits for the day. Create a daily checklist and track what’s been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
5) Set Boundaries
We all need to establish and stick to some boundaries to be productive. If you cannot set clear boundaries, your mind will be constantly pulled in different directions by various distractions, and your results will suffer. Create a daily schedule of commitments and stick to them.
6) Understand Your Own Work Style
Each of us works differently. Some people get into a groove and will complete tasks quickly and easily, while others need to take frequent breaks to stay on task. Set goals for yourself and find the best way to reach them.
7) Stay on Top of Your Deadlines
As a work-from-home professional, you rely on your word and your reputation. We all know deadlines are crucial to a successful business. If you get behind in your work, things can get very stressful. Make sure that you stay on top of deadlines. Assign an assistant to monitor the changing state of the project by checking in with the client periodically to ensure things are on track and establish clear expectations for when deliverables need to be sent out to clients.
8) Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself
Working from home can be rewarding, fun, and even lucrative, but it can also be stressful. Make sure you establish the right work/life balance to avoid burnout or becoming obsessed with your work. Having burnout will affect your performance.
In conclusion, following these expert tips can help you improve your work-from-home performance and get more done.
